Daylesford Area Prospecting, Panning & Detecting
Daylesford has a rich history that is better known for its mineral springs, guest houses and iconic scenery. What is less known is its gold prospecting possibilities! Within easy access from Melbourne, the Daylesford region offers one of the closest prospecting fields to the west of Melbourne for both panning and detecting.
Outside of the region, places like Steiglitz or Dolly's Creek (near Elaine) and the Blackwood goldfield, have all been reduced in size. It can be difficult to know where you can - or more likely can't - fossick. Lerederderg State Park is off limits, as is the river itself.
Panning for gold
Daylesford has one of the few creeks in the district that is legal to pan in and does not dry out over summer and into autumn. Sailors Creek does not dry out below the junction with Wombat Creek, at a place on the Midland Highway known as Twin Bridges. This is just out of town towards Ballarat. Nearby is Tipperary Springs.
In Hepburn Springs, past the Mineral Springs Reserve is Bryces Flat and the Blowhole - down Fifteenth and Eighteenth streets respectively. All these locations give access to walking tracks that lead along the valley for those who are more adventurous. You do need to fight the blackberries though once you get away from the busier spots.
In dryer times of the year, Sailors Creek makes for good gold panning and has reasonable access, as does Blind Creek and Stony Creek which are a little above and a little below Lake Daylesford respectively. You are not allowed to pan in Wombat Creek or Spring creek which joins Sailors creek. Sailors Creek and Spring Creek joins as you leave the built up area of old Hepburn at a place called Breakneck Gorge. This is where Jim Crow Creek starts which you are not allowed to pan in, nor are you allowed to pan in the Loddon River which Jim Crow runs into.
Gold detecting
Detecting on public lands around Daylesford is still legal. The Hepburn Regional Park and surrounding state forests are still available at the moment with no immediate or obvious threat to general prospecting under the Miner's Right.
Daylesford has a lot of active prospectors that generally keep a low profile for various reasons and so you do not hear much about the area as being a detecting area. From the east around to the north east of the town there is not much that can get you excited. Most of this area was company type ground that was mainly deep leads and reef mining.
South east of the town, roughly between Lake Jubilee and across to the road to Ballan from Daylesford (Blind Creek area) is an area that was historically rich and turns up specimens and small nuggets. South west of the town at the back of Sailors Falls is Old Toms Gully. This area and both sides of Bells reef road is noted for nuggets northwards, right through to Eganstown and onwards up Basalt and Werona roads to Yandoit. That will keep you busy!
Watch out though as a lot of the tracks south of Eganstown are closed during the winter and spring months. There is a rough area that has shown good finds on occasion, that is bounded by the Midland Highway on the east and the Hepburn township area to the west; it is wild country in there with very few tracks, best left for the experienced prospector. Daylesford northwards near Mt Franklin; the northern end of this "block" is known as the "Dry diggings area". This is also better suited to the more serious prospector because of the rough tracks and the surprisingly isolated nature given the proximity to the built up areas.
More Information
For more detailed publications on prospecting in the Hepburn Shire, please stop by one of the local Visitor Information centres where you can purchase detailed maps and guidebooks on gold prospecting.
Miners Right
In Victoria, recreational prospectors must have a miner's right to search for minerals on Crown land or private land where the activity is allowed. In addition to holding a miner's right, recreational prospectors are expected to seek permission to access land.
In Victoria, all minerals belong to the Crown, even on private land. A miner's right transfers the ownership of any minerals found whilst prospecting, to the holder of the miner's right. A miner's right is required, even if you are prospecting on your own land.
A miner's right valid for 10 years can be purchased for around $28. Once the rules and obligations - including land access rules have been read and understood, a miner's right can be purchased from a miners right outlet or through the following website - www.earthresources.vic.gov.au
