The Stawell Gold Mine (SGM) is a gold mine located just outside the town of Stawell, Victoria.[1] The current site was established in 1981, however mining has occurred on and around the site since the town was established in the mid 19th century.
The Magdala mine complex is an elaborate complex of mine, consisting of various extensive declines that formerly reached operating depths of up to 1.6 Kilometers (0.99 Miles).[2] In the present day, mining operations reach depths of just over 1km, down the Golden Gift decline. In recent years, the Magdala has been extended over to the former Wonga mine complex via an underground connection. The mines primary form of ore recovery is via an ore stoping process.
History
Stawell Gold Mine is based in the Western Goldfields region of Victoria. The local area has been the site of gold mining since its founding in 1853. The modern mine's primary decline, the Magdala decline, was started in 1981, with the mine reaching a maximum depth of 1.6km (0.99 Miles) around 2009.
Crocodile Gold obtained the mine in 2012.[3] At a stage under ownership of Croc Gold, the mine was planned to transition to an open cut style of mine, however environmental agencies restricted this from happening, due to its proximity to the township of Stawell.[4]
The mine transitioned into the hands of Newmarket Gold Inc. in July 2015, after Crocodile Gold Corp. and its assets were absorbed into the company.[5]
In 2016, under the ownership of Newmarket Gold's successor, Kirkland Lake Gold, the mine ceased underground mining, laying off around 150 staff, leaving the mine to operate under care and maintenance conditions.[6]
In 2017, the Arete Capital partners obtained a controlling share in the company, going on to examine the path the mine would take in the future to maximise production, with restoring and servicing all the mines production assets, the mine would go on to reopen fully in early 2019, with the first gold pour since the closure occurring that February.[7][8]
In 2019, construction on the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory (SUPL), commenced 1km below surface level inside the mine, the facility opened in August 2022.[9]
Stawell Gold Mines has numerous surface facilities including office spaces, light and heavy vehicle parking, 24-hour electrical and mechanical maintenance facilities, Vehicle fuel and wash bays. Ore is processed at the mines onsite mill, with ore supplied by truck loads transferred to the ROM pad.
The mine itself consists of over 350km of shafts and features an elaborate return airway system, keeping a constant fresh air draft in active drives and declines, and keeping hotter, contaminated air in maintained auxiliary drives. Air quality is also maintained via the use of return and fresh air rises.[11]
First breaking ground in 1984, initially as an open cut project on a site across adjacent to the primary site, Wonga was aimed at capitalising off Stawell's generous gold reefs. In 1986 a portal was installed and an underground decline started.[12] The Wonga open cut mining site and portal has been out of commission since the mid 2000s, and in recent years, its open pit and portal access slated for land rehabilitation. Underground pressurised air and water services, along with various other infrastructure are still installed at and operated via the former Wonga facility.
Since 2023, a decline has been developed off the main Magdala decline under the Wonga name, operating in close proximity to the former Wonga underground workings.[13]
Wonga is currently home to one of the first two commercially-available battery electric Epiroc ST-18 SG underground loaders.[14]
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