Stawell Gold Mines is located approximately 240 km northwest of Melbourne, 70 km southeast of Horsham and 2 km east of the Stawell CBD. All surface and underground infrastructure associated with the site’s operations are located within the MIN5260 lease area. Stawell Gold Mines has operated at its current location since 1981, which has involved the progressive mining of gold in a series of open pits and extensive underground workings. The surface operations are situated adjacent to the eastern boundary of the Stawell Township and encompass an approximate area of 380 ha. The site’s underground workings extend from the Magdala portal in a north-westerly direction underneath the town. In December 2017, private equity group Arete Capital Partners acquired a controlling interest in Stawell Gold Mines and related assets in Western Victoria, with the intention of returning the site to production by expanding the existing exploration programs to build the mineral inventory for the site. Throughout 2018, underground exploration took place allowing SGM to shore up future reserves resulting in the transition from care and maintenance towards restarting production in early 2019. This was followed by a period of recommissioning the processing plant and re-starting underground mining operations with the first production firing taking place in December 2018, and the first gold pour taking place on 31 January 2019.
