Rivers of Gold: The legacy of historical mining on our rivers

The NRM on the Border seminar series is proud to present Rivers of Gold: The legacy of historical mining on our rivers.

During the nineteenth century the gold-mining industry deposited large quantities of soil in rivers across South Eastern Australia. What happened to the rivers as a result? How much soil was moved? Where is it now? Do the mine sediments contain contaminants that might be dangerous to people, plants and animals?

Mining has led to extensive and long-lasting changes to waterways across Victoria, including in the North East region. This seminar will discuss how a multi-disciplinary team have used industrial archaeology, geomorphology and environmental chemistry to determine exactly what happened to the rivers, and how historic mining continues to influence them today.

Improved knowledge of the impact of mining on rivers in Victoria will lead to better catchment management, more effective strategies to revegetate and control erosion, enhanced management of Aboriginal cultural heritage and has implications for public health.

Presenters include: ◼ Professor Susan Lawrence, Department of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University ◼ Dr James Grove, School of Geography, The University of Melbourne ◼ Associate Professor Ewen Silvester, Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, and Deputy Director, Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems, La Trobe University ◼ Associate Professor Ian Rutherford, School of Geography, The University of Melbourne

Time: 5 pm – 6.30 pm, Thursday 2 May 2019
Location: La Trobe University, 133 McKoy Street, Wodonga – Main lecture theatre
Light refreshments will be provided by La Trobe University
Entry: Free and open to the public (please RSVP for catering purposes)

To RSVP (by Tues 30 April) or for more information contact cfe@latrobe.edu.au

Click here to download the flyer