11 May 2024
In fine weather members of the NETFNC set off along the section of the Briseis Water Race that runs from Ruby Flats Road near Branxholm, towards the race intake at Ringarooma.
The aim was to find, photograph, and hopefully identify fungi, and also learn a little about the history of the Great Briseis Water Race, which at the time – 1900-1902 – was touted as the greatest project of its kind ever undertaken in Australia.
Fortunately there had been recent rain, and we weren’t disappointed with the fungi we found.
The walk was mainly on top of the race walls, and almost flat, dropping only 4 feet (1.2 meters) per mile (1.6 kms), as the water of the race had to drop minimally on its downhill flow to the mine at Derby, a distance of 20 miles (32 kms) from the Ringarooma intake.
(Click images for a great view)
We passed through dry sclerophyll regrowth on both sides, stopping for lunch on a sunny bare granite hillside where the skeletal remains of a collapsed flume lay on the ground.
After lunch members were keen to continue walking for another couple of hours to see a beautiful wasp nest that had been seen in the area a few weeks previously. This provided a great photo opportunity as members jostled to take photos.
The nest was identified by Simon Fearn of QVMAG as that of the European wasp Vespula germanica. (Biosecurity Tasmania has been notified.)
The last photo taken, there was a brisk walk back to the car park where some members had been botanising.
It was agreed that it had been an interesting and varied outing, we had been lucky with the weather, and we all had a good work-out.
Fungi seen:
Tricholoma eucalypticum
Gymnopus sp.
Austroboletus
Stereum Ostrea
Lycoperdon pyriforme sp.
Mycena carmeliana
Cordyceps gunnii
Cortinarius mastoideus
Ferns seen:
Coral fern (Gleichenia sp.)
Mother shield fern (Polystichum proliferum)
Fishbone fern (Blechnum nudum)
Fan fern (Sticherus sp.)
Hard water fern (Blechnum wattsii)
Bracken fern (Pteridium esculentum)
Long fork fern (a Gondwana survivor) (Tmesipteris obliqua)
Man fern (Dicksonia antarctica)
Rough tree fern (Cyathea australis)
Kangaroo fern (Microsorum pustulatum)
Moss noted: Pin cushion moss (Leptostomum inclinans)
Trees:
Myrtle (Nothofagus cuninghamii)
Mountain ash (Eucapyptus regnans)
White gum (E. viminalis)
Stringybark (E. obliqua)
Dogwood (Pomaderis apetala)
History of the Briseis Race
The Great Briseis Race was named after the winner of the 1876 Melbourne Cup, “Briseis”.
In summer the production of the mine was hindered because there was insufficient water (from the Cascade River and Main Creek) for the mine’s open cut, high pressure hydraulic mining.
The tin (cassiterite) lay in leads of ancient alluvial deposits of decomposed granite, deep below the bed of the existing Ringarooma River. Overburden had to be removed to enable sluicing by high pressure hoses using millions of gallons of water daily.
To access more water the Briseis Water Race was constructed to transport water from Ringarooma to Derby. Once completed the race could deliver 24 million gallons per day to the mine and the mine prospered. To fund this the company raised 60,000 pounds sterling from investors in London, and in April 1900 engaged Mr Fraser, a surveyor from Ballarat, Victoria, to survey a suitable route.
Construction commenced in 1901, with about 300 men working in 3 gangs completing the race in 15 months.
During construction either side of the race was laid bare as 4 timber mills and numerous pit saws cut the timber that was used for building the trestles and boxing that supported flumes and syphons. Stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua) was the preferred timber.
Today, from the track, notched tree stumps can be seen where tree fellers drove wooden planks into the notches to stand on when sawing through a tree. Any other large trees that might have fallen and damaged the race were also felled.
A caretaker and 8 men maintained the race and the remains of an emergency telephone wire with white insulators can be seen in places alongside the track.
The Race officially opened at a ceremony in Derby, after Easter 1902.
The total length being about 30 miles (48 kms) including a 10 mile (16 kms) tributary section from the Maurice River and Dunn’s Creek.
It took 3 weeks for the first release of water to reach the mine.
The Briseis Mine closed in April 1929 when the Cascade Dam, which supplied the mine, flooded the town of Derby, killing 14 people. It reopened in 1934 and closed in 1948. It was never as successful as it had been in the previous century.
A couple of definitions:
Fluming: “An artificial channel and its supporting construction, generally of timber: used to conduct a stream or canal in situations where an earth or masonry channel cannot readily be secured.” (Wordnik)
Syphons : Steel pipes 6 metres long, about 1 metre in diameter, that were mounted on wooden trestles to conduct water.
History sources: (lots of interesting historical photos in the links)
Northeast Tasmania local history
“Brothers’ Home: the story of Derby Tasmania” by John Beswick.
Briseis water supply scheme 1901-1910 a premium investment
The Briseis Water Race by H. V. Champion August 1902