A prominent part of the growth and history of Australia is gold prospecting and mining. Australia (like the US and other parts of the mineral world) had a gold rush that sparked a crazy growth period for several towns and cities, resulting in explosions of population growth and immigration to and within Australia.
From this original gold rush, gold mining (and mining in general) now has a significant place in the Australian economy. Australia is home to some large mines such as the Super Pit (Kalgoorlie, Western Australia), Cadia Mine (near Orange, New South Wales) and the Fosterville Gold Mine (Fosterville, Victoria). All the biggest gold miners worldwide have a presence in gold mining in Australia such as Newcrest, Barrick and Newmont.
On a smaller scale, Australia is also home to some of the biggest gold nugget finds in history.
Examples of this include the Welcome Stranger (still the biggest alluvial gold nugget ever found at 2,520 troy ounces, discovered in 1869 in Moliagul Victoria by John Deason and Richard Oates), the Welcome Nugget (weighing 2,218 troy ounces, discovered in 1858 in Ballarat, Victoria by the Red Hill Mining Company) and the Lady Hotham (weighing 1,170 troy ounces, also discovered in Ballarat, Victoria in 1854 by several people including Amos Radcliff).
Does that mean all of the gold has been found? Far from it! Now the chances of you finding a nugget the size of the ones above is low, however large nuggets are still being found and there is plenty of opportunity to find some smaller nuggets with your prospecting kit or metal detector. An added bonus, you get to have fun and adventure doing it and you get to spend some time in the great Australian outdoors!
Prospecting for Gold in Australia
When looking to go prospecting for gold in Australia there are many different locations where gold can be found. Gold can be found in all Australian states and territories so wherever you live in Australia (or are going to visit) there are plenty of opportunities to look for gold.
What to find: With a bit of luck you’ll find some gold nuggets however depending on your detector there may be the option to find metals and minerals including silver, copper or iron. Depending on where you are prospecting you might even find some valuable gemstones such as rubies, opals and emeralds though these are less likely than finding gold which is usually closer to the earth’s surface.
Types of terrain: Australia, like most countries, has various types of terrain and looking for gold in an area such as Ballarat, Victoria will involve different settings than if you were in Gympie, Queensland. Get to know the terrain and surrounding areas and research to see if any gold or other minerals have been found in the area before embarking on your prospecting adventure.
What dangers to look out for: Given that most gold prospecting places in Australia are quite remote there are certain precautions you should take before you go remote prospecting. If you are visiting a site where mines have previously been in operation then be aware of mine shafts.
Make sure you know the area you are prospecting in and take all the necessary safety precautions when prospecting. Australia also has some interesting wildlife such as snakes and crocodiles so be careful.
Below are 5 places to go gold prospecting in Australia, places that are where (or near) previous gold finds in the past.
Ballarat
The home of one of the big Australia gold rushes in 1858, Ballarat (and its surrounds) are home to plenty of gold finds in recent times.
How to get there: Ballarat is approximately 115 km’s west of Melbourne. The easiest way to get into Ballarat is to drive (about 1 and a half hours) however there is also the train option to get to Ballarat from Melbourne.
Where to stay: There are plenty of accommodation options in Ballarat. From the Sovereign Hill Hotel to the BIG4 NRMA Ballarat Holiday Park there are plenty of places to book a room or a place in Ballarat. Airbnb is also an option when looking for accommodation in Ballarat and the surrounding areas.
Best way to find gold: Both panning and using a metal detector. There are a few rivers and dams in the Ballarat region to enable you to get your panning gear out just be aware that some of these river beds and creeks can dry up during the summer months.
When using your metal detector be aware that the terrain can be uneven (with plenty of trees and forests), hilly and quite rocky so use a detector that is suitable for this type of terrain.
Note: To prospect for gold in Victoria you will need a miner’s right which you will need to keep with you when you prospect. A 10 year right costs $26 (AUD) and is available for individuals only. Once you have this right you can prospect on crown land and legally keep any gold nuggets you might be lucky to find.
Eastern Goldfields including Kalgoorlie/Boulder/Coolgardie (Western Australia)
The home of the big goldrush in Western Australia, the goldfields is home to many different gold mines. The WA Goldfields are predominantly made up of the Kalgoorlie/Boulder region (home to the gold Super Pit) however there is also gold in the areas of Laverton, Boddington, Leonora and the ghost town of Gwalia just to name a few.
How to get there: Kalgoorlie is located approximately 600 km’s east/north-east of Perth. The quickest way to get to Kalgoorlie is to fly, with the flight from Perth to Kalgoorlie lasting just over an hour. Other alternatives include the train (The Prospector) which takes just under 7 hours and driving which takes about 6 and a half hours (both from Perth).
Where to stay: The main strip in Kalgoorlie is Hannan Street (named after founding father Paddy Hannan) which is home to quite a few of the local watering holes. Accommodation options include The Quality Inn, The Palace Hotel or the more upmarket Rydges Kalgoorlie. Airbnb is also an option in Kalgoorlie.
Best way to find gold: Both panning and using a metal detector. Whilst there are some panning opportunities, such as the Hannans North Tourist Mine or some of the salt lakes in surrounding areas, your best bet is to use a metal detector. The areas around Kalgoorlie can be quite mineralized so take this into account with your detector and settings. While parts of the Eastern Goldfields are quite flat other parts are undulating or hilly so bear this in mind.
Note: To prospect for gold in Western Australia you will need a miner’s right which you will need to keep with you when you prospect. A one year right costs $29.50 (AUD) and is available for individuals only. Once you have this right you can prospect on crown land and legally keep any gold nuggets you might be lucky to find.
Bathurst (NSW)
The home of Australia’s biggest inland settlement (as well as Australia’s biggest motorsport race the Bathurst 1000) Bathurst was also the site of a big goldrush in the 1850’s in New South Wales. Whilst gold was initially found in Bathurst in the 1830’s the government of the time wanted to keep this a secret so as not to inspire action from convicts searching for this gold.
This secret was maintained for about 20 years before they announced gold had been found in Bathurst, which signaled a gold rush in Bathurst.
Bathurst is often referred to as the Gold Country and many people have had success finding gold in Bathurst and the surrounding areas over the years. Whilst there aren’t any commercial mines operating in the arena you can still find gold nuggets when prospecting.
How to get there: Bathurst is located approximately 200 km’s west/north-west of Sydney. The easiest way to get to Bathurst is to drive (which will take about 3 hours) whilst there is also the train option (Dubbo XPT) which takes about 3 ½ to 4 hours.
Where to stay: Main streets include William and George and these are home to quite a few of the town’s pubs and accommodations. Accommodation options include the Heritage Inn, The NRMA Bathurst Panorama Holiday Park or the Rydges Mount Panorama. Airbnb is also an option in Bathurst.
Best way to find gold: Both panning and using a metal detector. There are plenty of panning and fossicking options in Bathurst though be aware in the warmer months some of the river and creek beds might be dry. The areas around Bathurst are a mixed bag, flat, hilly, rugged so do your research and take a versatile detector with you.
Note: To prospect for gold in New South Wales you don’t need a license or miner’s right however if you plan to prospect or fossick in a NSW State forest you will need a permit. miner’s right which you will need to keep with you when you prospect. A one year permit costs $27.50 (AUD) and is available for individuals only. Once you have this right you can prospect on crown land and legally keep any gold find up to certain size limits.
Adelaide surrounds including Jupiter Creek and Echunga (South Australia)
Whilst South Australia might not have had a big gold rush like Victoria or Western Australia, they are the 2nd biggest commercial gold mining Australian state, led by the Olympic Dam mine. Whilst not a big gold prospecting state, South Australia is home to some liquid gold with its wine regions producing some world renowned drops including the Penfolds Grange Hermitage.
Similar to its world class wineries, gold prospecting locations are quite close to the South Australia capital in Adelaide. Whilst there are several gold prospecting regions in South Australia, we will suggest Jupiter Creek and Echunga, both situated about 30 minutes south east of Adelaide.
How to get there: As both Jupiter Creek and Echunga are located nearby about 30 minutes outside of Adelaide it’s easiest to drive to get there.
Where to stay: Again given the close proximity of these two places to Adelaide it’s easiest to find a hotel or airbnb in Adelaide and hire a car to drive to Jupiter Creek or Echunga. Whilst it doesn’t offer accommodation, a good pit stop in Echunga is the Hagen Arms Hotel.
Best way to find gold: Using a metal detector. Whilst you might have some luck in the creeks your best outcome will likely be using a metal detector. Given these towns are located in the Adelaide Hills area be prepared for some rugged terrain.
Note: To prospect for gold in South Australia you don’t need a license or miner’s right however it is illegal to fossick within National Parks, Conservation Parks and Forest Reserves so only prospect in designated fossicking areas (such as Jupiter Creek and Echunga).
Gympie (QLD)
Gold has also had a big part in the history of Queensland. Gold finds in Clermont then Gympie, Rockhampton and Townsville helped prop up the Queensland economy after it separated from New South Wales after 1859. It also encourages many Australians (and overseas migrants) to head north to Queensland in search of riches.
As mentioned above Gympie was a big part of the Queensland gold rush in the late 1860’s. Although only small in area (compared to other Australian Goldfields) the Gympie Goldfield produced some extensive gold finds and at its peak over 25,000 had traveled to Gympie in search of gold.
Whilst the glory days of gold have faded in Gympie there are still plenty of options to find a gold nugget or two on your next prospecting adventure.
How to get there: Gympie is situated approximately 170 km north of the Queensland capital Brisbane. Whilst Gympie has a significant population (over 50,000) Gympie is also close to the popular holiday destination Noosa as well as Caloundra and the Sunshine Coast.
Where to stay: There are plenty of places to stay in Gympie. Options include the Great Eastern Motor Inn or the Y Hotels of Gympie or you could stay in the Sunshine Coast or Caloundra. .
Best way to find gold: Both panning and using a metal detector. There are plenty of panning (such as Deep Creek) and fossicking options in Gympie with some great opportunities to find gold with your metal detector. While Gympie itself is quite flat, the areas around Gympie can be rugged and hilly so make sure your metal detector is variable for your chosen location.
Note: To prospect for gold in Queensland you will need a fossicking license. For an individual these cost $9.02 for one month, $34.24 for 6 months and $57.66 for 1 year (all $AUD).
These are just 5 examples of places to find gold in Australia however there are plenty of other places to go gold hunting in Australia. Make sure you get the relevant permits needed, have plenty of supplies and take all the necessary safety precautions. Fingers crossed your next gold prospecting experience is fun and more importantly rewarding!