Federation University celebrates 151 years of continuous
learning, teaching and research in Geosciences with a series of public
presentations exploring historical, archaeological, economic and social
influences associated with mining in central Victoria.
Sludge - Disaster on the Goldfields, Professor
Susan Lawrence, La Trobe University
Abstract: The young colony of Victoria’s economic wealth was
founded on gold – but at what cost? Mud and sludge from the goldfields gushed
down rivers and onto floodplains spreading a thick ooze over the landscape and
having devastating consequences for farmland, people, plants and animals
downstream. Susan will explain how the lessons learned and battles fought by
early environmentalists of central Victoria now form the basis of improved
erosion control, revegetation programs and catchment management strategies
around the world.
Biography: Susan is interested in the physical evidence of
past human activity. Her wide-ranging research includes the archaeology of
colonisation, urban development and mining. She is co-author of SLUDGE:
Disaster on Victoria’s Goldfields. Susan teaches and leads research at La Trobe
University, is active in several national and international heritage and
archaeological organisations and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the
Humanities and the Society of Antiquaries of London.