Could you get lucky and strike gold these school holidays?

The school holidays are a great time to get out in nature and search for gold on the back of some recent amateur discoveries across western Victoria.

The school holidays are a great time to get out in nature and search for gold on the back of some recent amateur discoveries across western Victoria.

Recreational prospecting is overseen by Resources Victoria’s Earth Resources Regulator. Earlier this year a prospector using a metal detector discovered a gold nugget weighing more than half a kilo near Ballarat with its estimated value at around $80,000.

The area covering Bendigo, Ballarat and Wedderburn is often referred to as Victoria’s “Golden Triangle” and has seen several amateur gold discoveries in recent years.

Last year, a lucky prospector struck gold using a metal detector, discovering a 4.6kg nugget in the same area. The find was valued at around $240,000. A gold nugget worth about $200,000 was also discovered in the Golden Triangle in 2019.

Recreational prospecting is a fantastic activity for families and friends, offering a chance to stay active, unwind, and spend quality time together while exploring Victoria's rich history and stunning landscapes.

It’s important that anyone planning to try their hand at recreational prospecting understands the rules before they head out and keeps safety at the forefront of their mind.

With the recent wet and windy weather across the state, make sure you plan ahead before heading out and check local weather conditions, state forest, park and road closures on MapshareVic.

In Victoria, hobby gold hunters must possess a miner's right, allowing them to keep any gold they find. There are over 92,000 active miner’s rights in Victoria and the rush to get involved shows no sign of slowing with more than 7,000 purchased during 2024. A miner’s right can be purchased for $27 from Services Victoria.  

Recreational prospecting is permitted in state forests and in designated areas of some national, state, historic and heritage parks. The use of mechanical equipment or explosives is not allowed, vegetation and Aboriginal objects must not be removed or damaged.

Prospectors must also obey all other public land rules, including driving only on public tracks or roads, taking all rubbish home, and immediately restoring the area by backfilling any holes and replacing leaf litter.

Resources Victoria has produced a Guide to Recreational Prospecting in Victoria and a helpful video, both can be accessed by visiting our Fossicking page.

Attribute quotes to Chris Webb, Resources Victoria Executive Director Regulatory Operations

“Recreational prospecting has a long and rewarding history in Victoria and we’ve seen some really exciting finds in recent years.”

“If you’re looking to explore some of Victoria’s beautiful regional areas these school holidays, why not try something different and give recreational prospecting a go?”

“Just make sure you buy a miner’s right for $27 so you can keep any hidden treasure you might be lucky enough to find.”