Fossicking for Gold             

Fentons Creek is one of Australia's premier gold detecting regions and is famous for its alluvial gold. Of the 40 nuggets weighing over 18 kilograms recorded in Australia, 32 have been discovered in Central Victoria around Fentons Creek.  Best known areas for the large number of nuggets found in the past are Dunolly, Moliagul, Rheola, Kingower and Wedderburn.  Today, nuggets continue to be unearthed throughout this region. 

Although their lives could be harsh, many old time prospectors enjoyed their search for gold. Today's prospectors, armed with a gold detector, also love to get out in the bush.

You can try your luck by hiring a detector or you can be taken on a special tour with all equipment supplied and the art of gold detecting taught to you.  Special maps showing the areas most likely to produce nuggets are available from the Coiltek Gold centre in Maryborough. 

Talbot, Amherst, Avoca, Maryborough, Dunolly, Tarnagulla, Moliagul, Inglewood and Wedderburn are all places worth visiting to hunt for gold.

The largest alluvial gold nugget ever found, unearthed at Moliagul in February 1869. Weighing a massive 69kg, it was discovered by miners John Deason & Richard Oates, just 2.5cm below the surface.

The 'Hand of Faith' nugget was found at Kingower, 30 kms north of Dunolly in 1980. It weighed 875 troy ounces and was found using a metal detector.  Locals will regale you with stories of smaller but numerous finds of recent days.