4WD Touring Australia – June 2018

THE NOW STORY

While there mightn’t be as much gold as

yesteryear, the methods and equipment

used to nd it are a lot more advanced.

Even then, if you wanna line your pockets

with a couple of stray nuggets while you’re

touring the region, it’s all about research.

You’re not going to be dredging up much

paydirt if you’re completely blind to the

most productive historical areas.

Don’t just be content to look online

either, take the time and care to do some

sleuthing in small town libraries in the HC

and get some source material on where

previous rushes occurred. The hills and

valleys are literally pockmarked with old

mining sites.

You’ll nd plenty of info about the gold

mines at Mt. Feathertop and the Razor-

back, but you’ll also nd that they’re now

protected by national park, and also by the

elements for a big chunk of the year, but

you can still look slightly down the hill at

places like Bright and Harrietville.

Doing this sort of research, for example,

you’ll also nd a bunch of streams beyond

Omeo where you can try your luck, such

as Store Creek, Yahoo Creek, and Boggy

Creek. You’ll nd out this place once saw

a smaller gold rush 150 years ago, and the

area is not only stunning to drive and camp

in, it can still produce the odd gram of gold

here and there.

Obviously, whether panning creeks or

metal detecting nearby, be very aware that

you don’t want to be wading anywhere

near a raging, icy torrent.

Yep, you’re going to have to put a bit of

work in. But the beauty of prospecting the

High Country is that it’s beautiful, rugged

country.

You have to make sure your recovery

and comms gear are in tip-top shape here,

as it’s more difcult to nd the best places to

detect. Make sure you have sturdy boots

and waders, and your clothes are dry and

warm.

THIS PAGE: When you got mountains, you got valleys. When you got

valleys, you got streams. When you got streams in the High Country, you got

alluvial gold.

TRAVEL

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