A group of South Gippsland farmers had a challenging night on Saturday after finding a cow had fallen down a 130-year-old gold mine.
Fish Creek farmers David Pilkington and Fracnes Toohey found the heifer several metres down the shaft on a property they leased from Gary Wallis at Fish Creek.
The quick-thinking couple contacted Mr Wallis who had an excavator on the property, and within the hour, they commenced digging a pathway so it could walk out.
"Our best hope to excavate the side of the shaft to create a ramp," Ms Toohey said.
"It took us a few hours to get her out but considering the ordeal, she very luckily scrambled out unscathed."
The mine was used in the 1880s by the Yanakie Gold Mine Company.
Ms Toohey said the heifer managed to fall down the shaft after a short in the fence meant some cattle were able to sneak through the historic area.
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Bryce Eishold
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media's Stock & Land where he reports on all aspects of agriculture. Bryce is also the president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@stockandland.com.au.
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media's Stock & Land where he reports on all aspects of agriculture. Bryce is also the president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@stockandland.com.au.
