Gold Detecting & Prospecting

Gold Detecting & Prospecting

Central Victoria is best known as the land of the Welcome Stranger, but there are plenty more gold nuggets where that 78-kilogram beauty came from. Finding gold is still a regular occurrence in the Loddon Valley, however most keep their lucky strikes secret.

Some people still make a living from the Loddon Valley diggings. For others, going prospecting is all for love. Hobby prospectors from around the globe still try their luck among the region’s famous ironbark forests, creeks and mullock heaps.

Prospecting is allowed in Regional Parks, State Forests, and various reserves across the region—offering thousands of hectares of public land to explore in search of gold. To find specific locations, visit parkweb.vic.gov.au.

If you plan to prospect on private land, you’ll need permission from the landowner.
Wherever you search, make sure you have a valid Miner’s Right (available online, information below) and always remember to fill in any holes you dig.

Click here to download the Loddon Valley - Gold Prospecting guide