Fontainbleu Dam is located within the Redcastle - Graytown State Forest The forest comprises mainly Box-Ironbark trees, a dense hardwood suitable for bulding, fences, flooring etc. State Forests are managed to balance multiple uses including recreation, bee keeping, tree felling and gold mining as well water and biodiversity conservation. Fontainbleu reef was opened In December 1860 and mining continued for over three decades. In 1867 a gold rush began in the area after John Woods Russell discovered alluvial gold in the Nine Mile Creek below Fontainbleu. Surface mining continued at Fontainbleu until the 1940s. In March 1870 the Mining Surveyors’ Report stated that Fontainbleu reef was producing nearly 3oz of gold per ton. Today you can see evidence of reef mining from the early 1890s, as well as enjoying a peaceful picnic or BBQ. Extract from DSE Forest Notes by Carolyn Slijkerman