Hillgrove is an “on again, off again” mining area. Over the past 150 years or so in this area, mining has made a fortune for some, and bankrupted others. The current hamlet of Hillgrove has a few handfuls of houses, a tiny remnant of the community that once boasted several hotels, and about 3000 residents.

The hamlet sits right on the edge of the gorge country and this photograph illustrates some of that country – riddled with old mines and with the remnants of mining activity (the sharp eyed will be able to make out some of those leftovers in the top right quadrant of the image.