The Craigie State Forest is a fascinating area of bushland between Maryborough, Carisbrook and Craigie, filled with hidden remnants of the area's rich gold mining and eucalyptus distillation history.
There are many interesting places to explore throughout the forest, and the entire area is great for free camping, dog walking, gold prospecting, bushwalking and cycling.
This dam is a peaceful spot for bushwalking, where you can take a walk to a nearby monument commemorating a significant gold discovery in the 1850s!
The dam is surrounded by bushland and also has a simple bench seat set beneath a tree.
Walking track from Craigie State Forest Dam
At the dam you will see a sign for the walking track. T
his walk takes you on a dirt road which winds through the Craigie State Forest, where you can see abundant evidence in the land of gold digging efforts from over 150 years ago.
A short way along the walking track is a cairn which commemorates the discovery of a 537 oz gold nugget by J.W. Rice in January, 1858.
How to get to the Craigie State Forest Dam
Follow Stewart Drive from Trafalgar Street and you will soon enter the Craigie State Forest and reach this dam.
GOLD PROSPECTING IN THE CRAIGIE STATE FOREST
The Craigie State Forest is a great area for gold prospecting, with plenty of shallow ground and exposed quartz reefs throughout the forest.
You will also come across old surfacing areas around Blackman's Lead, and there are plenty of old mining dams which are great for gold panning and highbanking.
There are no creeks flowing through the Craigie State Forest, but there are some gullies which will hold a bit of water during winter.
There are open mine shafts and unstable ground throughout the Craigie State Forest. Always be wary of the
dangers of mine shafts.