Welcome Stranger Monument
The first recorded discovery of gold in Moliagul was in September 1852 and, before long, the area was flooded with over 4,000 miners. Two of those miners, John Deason and Richard Oates, had arrived i...
Read More2km southwest of the town of Moliagul is a granite obelisk erected in 1897 to mark the discovery site of the Welcome Stranger. Found in 1869, the 69kg gold nugget is the largest alluvial, or reef, nugget in the world.
The Moliagul Historical Reserve, in addition to marking the famous location, is also a fantastic place for a day out. With a picnic area, featuring tables, wood fire barbeques and an undercover area, alongside space for camping with a few spots to pitch tents and caravan access, the reserve is also just a few minutes drive from toilet and camping facilities at Moliagul Campground. Signage at the reserve offers details about the discovery and the lives of John Deason and Richard Oates, the fortunate miners who uncovered the Welcome Stranger.
A map is available for an 850m circuit around the surrounding bushland showing fascinating examples of alluvial mining, the house sites of Deason and Oates, a Chinese grave and the site of a Chinese camp.
