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Directions to your fourth story point. Continue west along Percydale Road into the Percydale Historic Area for 350 meters. On the left, you will see visible evidence of mining. Follow the track – Slate Quarry Track – to the left. To your right is a large clearing where the old township was located. Park safely and go for a wander, pause, and play.
Alluvial gold was mined in the Percydale area, originally called Fiddler's Creek, from 1854 onwards. A fresh find and a rush in 1869 brought the population to over 2,000 people. The township boasted two hotels, three banks, two grocers, post office, police station, blacksmith, and a dress shop. Cobb & Co coaches travelled through on a route between Melbourne and Adelaide. There was a large population of Chinese miners.
The Chinese also tended to substantial market gardens, supplying fresh produce to the region. Very early after the discovery, a small group of Chinese sank several shafts and found rich gold seams. The site was carefully hidden. They passed the news to friends and relatives in China. Ironically, the mine was later called the White Lead.
Quickly, many arrived and disembarked in South Australia to avoid Victoria's immigration tax. They walked several hundred kilometres to the central Victorian goldfields. In the early hours one morning, local miners heard the sound of bare feet and wheelbarrows being pushed along the main street, accompanied by soft voices speaking a foreign language. When daylight came, the European population was surprised to see the whole valley below pegged out with large numbers of Chinese pitching their tents.