Von Guerard's famous "Sping in the Valley of the Mitta Mitta" (1866)
The hamlet of Mitta Mitta in north-east Victoria nestles between two mountains that adequately epitomise contrasting historical fortunes, Mount Misery and Mount Welcome. The village owes its existence to gold and the name is taken from the grand river that was first discovered by explorers Hume & Hovell in 1824 on their southwards trek. Some claim that "Mitta Mitta" derives from the aboriginal "mutta mutta". Whilst the meaning of the aboriginal name is under dispute the importance of the Mitta Mitta River to the River Murray system is not, since the Dartmouth Dam above the township is now the major drought storage.
The River rises from the rugged mountains making up the Great Dividing Range with much of its volume from its major tributary, Big River. Big River's source is the south-eastern catchment of Mount Bogong, Victoria's highest peak, taking in melting snows and run-off from a large area of pristine bush. As the Mitta Mitta River rushes in a generally northerly direction, it picks up water from a plethora of creeks and streams until the Murray River is reached at the Hume Weir. Prior to the Dartmouth Dam completion in 1979, the River regularly flooded, providing a stable water table, nutrients for the valley soils and the means for flora propagation.
The River rises from the rugged mountains making up the Great Dividing Range with much of its volume from its major tributary, Big River. Big River's source is the south-eastern catchment of Mount Bogong, Victoria's highest peak, taking in melting snows and run-off from a large area of pristine bush. As the Mitta Mitta River rushes in a generally northerly direction, it picks up water from a plethora of creeks and streams until the Murray River is reached at the Hume Weir. Prior to the Dartmouth Dam completion in 1979, the River regularly flooded, providing a stable water table, nutrients for the valley soils and the means for flora propagation.
Aboriginal tribes used the River as a food source, social connections, trading and sometimes wars. Their presence in the area goes back at least 4,000 years and artefacts are frequently located along the extent of the River and its tributaries. Although miners found abundant evidence of aboriginal activity there was very little contact, no wonder when their river and stream food source had been commandeered. The principle tribe in the district was the Jaitmathang with the Theddora-mittung occupying the area round the southern end of the Mitta Mitta Valley in the vicinity of the present township and by 1870 the aboriginal presence had disappeared completely.
Located at the confluence of the River and Snowy Creek, Mitta Mitta was firstly titled 'Junction Snowy Creek' or 'The Junction', and later - during the early 1880s - was gazetted with the present name. The location at the southern end of the intermontane valley was geographically strategic since it provided access to Omeo and mining rushes to the Wombat, Lightning, Dart and Mount Wills fields, initially via bridle tracks and later with improved tracks and roads. Mitta Mitta became the natural site for a settlement, the police station was erected in 1859 and in 1870 the first Post Office was opened by Thomas Grant.
Located at the confluence of the River and Snowy Creek, Mitta Mitta was firstly titled 'Junction Snowy Creek' or 'The Junction', and later - during the early 1880s - was gazetted with the present name. The location at the southern end of the intermontane valley was geographically strategic since it provided access to Omeo and mining rushes to the Wombat, Lightning, Dart and Mount Wills fields, initially via bridle tracks and later with improved tracks and roads. Mitta Mitta became the natural site for a settlement, the police station was erected in 1859 and in 1870 the first Post Office was opened by Thomas Grant.
To the south terrain rises sharply from the valley to the mountain backdrop dominated by Mount Bogong and the Great Dividing Range. Dry sclerophyll forest proliferates above the valleys and as altitude and rainfall increases from Mitta Mitta's 1052 mm average, wet sclerophyll and eventually alpine vegetation takes over.
Early pastoralists arrived from north of the Murray River after 1835 and took up the fertile land in the valleys and the surrounding bush. Cattle provided the first focus but later the Valley was cropped then replaced with dairying as farmers adjusted to changing demands and opportunities. Some farmers who turned to mining were later able to buy additional land from the spoils but those were definitely a minority.
Granite Flat (earlier called Snowy Creek) to the South of Mitta Mitta was the scene for extensive alluvial mining and a large itinerant population associated with mining interests. The Post Office opened for business in 1859 and various waves of miners filled and emptied the 'Flat' as news of rushes elsewhere enticed diggers to better pickings.
Early pastoralists arrived from north of the Murray River after 1835 and took up the fertile land in the valleys and the surrounding bush. Cattle provided the first focus but later the Valley was cropped then replaced with dairying as farmers adjusted to changing demands and opportunities. Some farmers who turned to mining were later able to buy additional land from the spoils but those were definitely a minority.
Granite Flat (earlier called Snowy Creek) to the South of Mitta Mitta was the scene for extensive alluvial mining and a large itinerant population associated with mining interests. The Post Office opened for business in 1859 and various waves of miners filled and emptied the 'Flat' as news of rushes elsewhere enticed diggers to better pickings.
Cliffs at the Pioneer Mine
The population peaked at about 400 but by the time the Flat had been proclaimed a township in 1891 the major mining activities were all but over and today the only remaining remnant is the Catholic Church.
Eskdale to the north of Mitta Mitta also owes its origins to mining, the village servicing firstly alluvial and later the successful reef mines along the Dorchap Range. The towns of the Valley were serviced by Tallangatta which eventually boasted a rail connection to Melbourne via Wodonga. Tallangatta could be reached from Mitta Mitta via Crawford & Co's arduous coach service that departed the village at 10am and arrived at Tallangatta at 5pm. The regional centre and mining administration were conducted from Beechworth, itself the nucleus of a successful alluvial and reef mining precinct.
Eskdale to the north of Mitta Mitta also owes its origins to mining, the village servicing firstly alluvial and later the successful reef mines along the Dorchap Range. The towns of the Valley were serviced by Tallangatta which eventually boasted a rail connection to Melbourne via Wodonga. Tallangatta could be reached from Mitta Mitta via Crawford & Co's arduous coach service that departed the village at 10am and arrived at Tallangatta at 5pm. The regional centre and mining administration were conducted from Beechworth, itself the nucleus of a successful alluvial and reef mining precinct.
Wall built by the Chinese to divert Snowy Creek
Gold was first discovered at the northern end of the Mitta Valley in 1851 and the following year at the junction of the Snowy Creek, the location of the present town. Alluvial gold continued to be mined in the creeks and streams with various breaks when more major discoveries were located at Granite Flat and the Wombat.
The big break occurred in 1884 when the Union Gold Sluicing Company was formed to commence open cut operations at the back of the township using hydraulic sluicing, a newly imported idea from California. Soon after, the Pioneer Hydraulic Mining Company commenced operations next door and absorbed the Union company and became a very successful enterprise operating until 1904. The mine was managed during its formative years by one of the famous Hedley brothers, James. It was the Federation drought that deprived the 'Pioneer' of a reliable water supply and hence its ability to maintain sustainable operations but also the introduction of dredging made other retrieval methods more viable. The Pioneer yielded 441Kg of gold and the red-orange escarpment is now a feature backdrop of the town can be easily seen from passing overhead aircraft on their way to Melbourne at 35,000ft.
The big break occurred in 1884 when the Union Gold Sluicing Company was formed to commence open cut operations at the back of the township using hydraulic sluicing, a newly imported idea from California. Soon after, the Pioneer Hydraulic Mining Company commenced operations next door and absorbed the Union company and became a very successful enterprise operating until 1904. The mine was managed during its formative years by one of the famous Hedley brothers, James. It was the Federation drought that deprived the 'Pioneer' of a reliable water supply and hence its ability to maintain sustainable operations but also the introduction of dredging made other retrieval methods more viable. The Pioneer yielded 441Kg of gold and the red-orange escarpment is now a feature backdrop of the town can be easily seen from passing overhead aircraft on their way to Melbourne at 35,000ft.
Mitta Mining by Russell J Kelly (2007) is a comprehensive historical account of gold recovery around Mitta Mitta, Victoria. ISBN 9780957853317 Available from the Mitta Store.
© Russell Kelly 2011
Dredge Buckets
Mitta features on National news during the fires
Our Soldier Sons - A Short history of the Mitta Valley & Our Veterans 1914-1919, Mitta Valley Heritage Society, 2001 ISBN 0-646-41468-2
Going My Way - The Story of the Mysterious Crash of a Beaufort Bomber (3rd edition 2008) by Russell Kelly is an account of tragic WW2 accident near Eskdale, Victoria. ISBN 9780957853324
Dredging operations commenced in 1906 in an area which is now occupied by the Magorra Caravan Park and this produced 167Kg of gold until the company folded in 1913. Just as well, since that same year the State Government established an enquiry to deal with the huge ecological damage caused by dredging and the resulting controls placed by the Government rendered a lot of dredging uneconomical.
The Valley then turned to dairying and cattle and this continues until today.
At one time Mitta boasted three hotels and the survivor, the Laurel Hotel, still operates on its original site on the bank of the Snowy Creek.
Mitta's demographics has changed and today with a permanent population of 31, the town relies on tourism for its existence.
Fires came close in 1939 but the biggest threat occurred in the early part of 2003 when fires surrounded the village for nearly five weeks. Fortunately there was no loss of lives or property within the town but the intensity of the fire seriously destroyed nearby State Forest and some farming land.
Further Reading
The Valley then turned to dairying and cattle and this continues until today.
At one time Mitta boasted three hotels and the survivor, the Laurel Hotel, still operates on its original site on the bank of the Snowy Creek.
Mitta's demographics has changed and today with a permanent population of 31, the town relies on tourism for its existence.
Fires came close in 1939 but the biggest threat occurred in the early part of 2003 when fires surrounded the village for nearly five weeks. Fortunately there was no loss of lives or property within the town but the intensity of the fire seriously destroyed nearby State Forest and some farming land.
Further Reading
Mitta Mitta Cemetery -140 years (2009) by Janet Duncan. A comprehensive and detailed listing of burials 1867-2007 with biographical material and newspaper obituaries and articles. Copies available from the Mitta Valley Heritage Society.
The famous Lightning Creek Flume, 1890's
Granite Flat circa 1900. The town had a large population of Chinese who moved on once the alluvial gold had been exhausted. All that remains of this town is the Catholic Church and cemetery.
Mitta Mitta from the Early Pioneer Days (1953) written by Mitta's then Postmistress provides a valuable and complete history of the town.
Using a Californian Pump at Mitta Mitta