Evolution Mining Limited has announced gold produced at its Mt Rawdon gold mine, located 20 kilometres southeast of Mt Perry, has been used to make Australia’s most iconic horse racing trophy for the 2018 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
This is the third consecutive year that Australia's second largest gold miner has supplied the gold to make the Melbourne Cup trophy, but the first time the gold has come from one of its Queensland operations.
Mt Rawdon is a residential operation which employs 250 employees and contractors, 85% of whom are from the Wide Bay-Burnett region. It is forecast to produce over 100,000 ounces of gold in Financial Year 2018 and has produced more than 1.5 million ounces since it began operations in 2001.
The Melbourne Cup trophy is valued at $200,000, is made from 18-carat gold and contains 44 pieces that are hand spun over a 250-hour production process. Gold used to make the trophy was mined and processed at Mt Rawdon and refined at ABC Bullion’s refinery in Sydney.
Evolution’s Executive Chairman Jake Klein was proud to supply Australian gold from Mt Rawdon to make the prestigious Melbourne Cup, for the race that stops the nation.
“Evolution is honoured to once again play a part in producing this iconic trophy in Australian racing for the Victorian Racing Commission with our refining partners ABC Bullion.
“On behalf of our 250 people at Mt Rawdon and more than 700 people across Queensland, it will be a real thrill to know that Australia has stopped to watch horses from around the world compete for a trophy with its origins near Mt Perry within the North Burnett Regional Council area,” said Mr Klein.
Bernie Cleary, General Manager of Mt Rawdon Operations, was delighted to work with the community on the initiative.
“The staff at Mt Rawdon are very excited that they have played a role in generating this year’s Melbourne Cup trophy. Following the announcement by the Victorian Racing Commission that the gold had been sourced from Mt Rawdon, I was privileged to be able to announce this to our community stakeholders at our recent mine tours and community information session and they were just as delighted about the news as we were,” said Mr Cleary.
Mt Rawdon is located in the Wide Bay Burnett region of Queensland with the majority of employees living in Mt Perry. The open pit mine has been in operation for 17 years and has been under Evolution’s ownership since 2011. The mine will produce over 100,000 ounces in FY18 and has a mine life which contemplates it will remain in operation until at least 2026. The mine successfully transitioned to owner-miner in the September quarter 2014 with better than expected productivity and operating costs achieved. It has a long history of reliable and safe production.