Clermont, 1861
Alluvial gold found in gullies south of Clermont triggered one of Queensland’s major gold rushes. The old district still attracts detectorists.
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Goldmines & Ghost Towns
Track down old diggings, historic goldfields and the towns the rush left behind. Search hundreds of Australian sites, filter by state, and plan a detour.
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Field guide: Queensland
Places to fossick in Queensland
Queensland has gold country for every kind of trip, from easy-to-reach creek beds to broad stretches of bush. Choose an area, read its current access conditions, and make a plan before leaving town.
Clermont gold district
- Bathampton
- Birimgan East
- Birimgan West
- Black Ridge
- Brigalow
- Flat Diggings
- Four Mile East
- Four Mile West
- McDonald Flat
- McMasters
- Museum Reserve
- Town Reserve
Warwick and Gympie
- Thanes Creek
- Talgai State Forest
- Durikai State Forest
- Deep Creek
Official South-east Queensland guide
Capricorn region
- Mount Morgan No. 7 Dam Reserve
What to take and what to leave at home
- Carry your licence, the official map and a downloaded offline copy.
- Pack water, boots, long pants, sun protection and a basic first-aid kit.
- A detector, pan, pick, shovel and sieve are useful; machinery and generators are not permitted.
- Keep holes small and refill them before leaving. Take all rubbish home.
- Book accommodation rather than camping in these areas, and stay off claims and leases.
- Expect snakes and patchy reception. Tell someone your route and return time.
Gympie, 1867
James Nash discovered gold near the Mary River, sparking the Gympie gold rush. Deep Creek remains a fossicking area.
Mount Morgan
Mining ran from 1882 to 1981 and produced 250 tonnes of gold. Early oxidised ore averaged 29.5 grams of gold per tonne.