'A subtle and evasive thing': mercury refining in northern New South Wales in the early twentieth century

Increasing importation of mercury for use in gold refining operations prompted the New South Wales government in 1900 to offer a reward for its production from ore raised within the colony. One early attempt to claim the reward was made at Pulganbar, in the Clarence River district. The ruins of this rare mineral processing activity are extant. The mode of operation of the original plant, which functioned for about four years from 1913, is interpreted mainly from historical records, supported by the study of its physical remains. It included a reverberatory furnace for roasting the mercury ore, a series of water-cooled chambers in which the gaseous mercury was condensed, a long flue and a chimney stack. Although the mainly brick ruins are afforded some level of protection by their inclusion on the heritage schedule of the relevant Local Environmental Plan, they are threatened by wandering livestock and uncontrolled growth of vegetation.