Rivers of Gold: Report on the effects of historical mining on the Yarrowee/Leigh River, Victoria

Historical gold mining in Victoria had a range of dramatic and enduring effects on both landforms and waterways. The industry discharged at least 800 million cubic metres of semi-liquid mine waste or tailings into Victorian rivers and streams between 1851 to 1914 (Davies et al. 2018; Lawrence et al. 2021). Contemporary reports described widespread damage to river channels,  floodplains and their associated ecosystems (Board 1887; Morres 1872). Rivers of Gold is a collaborative research project established to investigate these effects. The research team includes archaeologists, geomorphologists and environmental chemists from La Trobe University (Melbourne and Albury-Wodonga), the University of Melbourne, and Lincoln University (UK).