Pioneer Copper Mine at Old Pelion – Overland Track

[SurferShane]

“I dig the Pioneers”! – (Dave Graney)

Just for something a bit different I thought I would post a couple of pictures of the copper (?) mine at old Pelion Hut. For me, it has got to the stage where I am happy to go a bit slower and take in some of the history along various walks. The fascination with the mine comes from my upbringing in the Hunter Valley Coalfields NSW. While we do not have the alpine wilderness of Tasmania, it was still nice to prod around the old mine sites that were common up here.

Funniest thing was once at Lake Vera Hut off Frenchman’s Cap when these politically correct greenie girls decided to have a shot at me about lighting the coal fire (YES, it was below 10) for fear they would die of carbon monoxide poisoning. My response was,

“Well I grew up in the coalfields and aren’t no one I know ever died over their coal fire”.

Anyone coming form Zehan or Queenstown might have said the same thing?

Old Pelion Hut

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Outside Mine

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From inside mine

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[Mickeymoo]

Nice photos, looks like it would have been a bit of fun exploring.

[kanangra]

Interesting. Where is the mine in relation to the hut?

[SurferShane]

Interesting. Where is the mine in relation to the hut?

Heading westerly to the toilet at old Pelion take the track that veers off downwards to the right and follow it downstream for another few hundred or so metres. The light coloured tailings from the mine go right down to the waters edge, so it is pretty had to miss.

Best to take a torch so you can have a quick look inside (only about 75 m deep). I am NOT a mine engineer, but it looks like it has been blasted and pick axed from fairly solid rock, so the roof is at least half secure.

[kanangra]

Thanks, I must check it out next time I'm in there.