Do the right thing when searching for gold

With more Victorians searching for gold and gems, it is important recreational prospectors remain safe after recent wet weather and do the right thing to protect the environment.

With more Victorians searching for gold and gems, it is important recreational prospectors remain safe after recent wet weather and do the right thing to protect the environment.

Recreational prospecting is a low impact way of looking for gems or minerals using metal detectors, picks, shovels, sieves and pans. Caution should be exercised after heavy rain when rocks can be dislodged and land near rivers may be unstable.

It is crucial to keep up to date on weather forecasts and be aware of local road conditions.

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 permitted, and vegetation and Aboriginal heritage and artefacts’ must not be removed or damaged.

Public land rules must be obeyed, including only driving on designated tracks or roads, taking all rubbish home, and restoring areas disturbed by recreational prospecting through backfilling and replacing removed material, including soils and leaf litter.

Prospectors must possess a miner's right, allowing them to keep any gold they find. There are over 115,000 active miner’s rights in Victoria and the rush to get involved continues with 7,700 purchased so far in 2026. A miner’s right can be purchased for $28.60 from Services Victoria.

Over the past six months, Resources Victoria has been conducting patrols throughout the state to help prospectors better understand the activities permitted at their location.

Inspectors also regularly check miner’s rights are valid, that panning is occurring where allowed and environmental safeguards are being observed.

Two prospectors were recently fined $1,000 after they were found to be using mechanical equipment when searching for gold in a river in the state’s north. They had previously been cautioned by Resources Victoria.

Quotes attributable to Resources Victoria Chief Inspector Renee Palmer

“With more recreational prospectors searching for gold, it’s important that they do the right thing, like restoring disturbed areas by backfilling any holes and replacing leaf litter. “

“Resources Victoria inspectors routinely check that prospectors are licenced, panning in permitted areas and reducing their impact on the environment.”