Oriental Omeo

Another little surprise awaited us just outside the town of Omeo.  A sign to the 'Oriental Claims' made us pull over and take a look. Omeo it turns out is not just another small town on the road to the ski fields, but a place of some historical significance. Gold was discovered here in the mid 19th century, drawing hundreds of prospectors, Europeans as well as Chinese. The mining camp that grew up here eventually became the town of Omeo.

We visited a mine site close to the Oriental Claims which was mined by a couple of Chinese men. We were intrigued by how the land had been gouged and tunnelled, and in some places how low the tunnel ceilings were. It wasn't hard to imagine the feverish activity here as all around us the alluvial rocks glistened with flecks of gold. We learned that one miner made about $3 million dollars and eventually settled in the town, becoming a well known local identity. No doubt many fortunes were made and lost, but Omeo lives to tell the tale. 

F