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Kirk Dam - Paddys Ranges

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  • 20170422 150742 Remains of a puddling machine. These rings are scattered through the bushland of the Goldfields.
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Adelaide Lead
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From Possum Gully Road, turn onto Possum Gully Track and follow it a short way into Paddys Ranges until you see the turn off sign for Kirk Dam.

Explore other locations around this area using our interactive map

Features

Kirk Dam in Paddys Ranges is a fascinating example of the effect gold mining has had on the local land.

A brief walk around the area surrounding the dam will take you among dozens of shallow mine shafts and countless mullock heaps. 


There's also a large ring-shaped depression in the ground where miners used to operate a puddling machine to extract gold from the clay.


If you are going to wander around this interesting area be very cautious of any possible deep mine shafts or unstable ground.

PADDYS RANGES STATE PARK


Paddys Ranges State Park is a beautiful area to explore, filled with mining and eucalyptus distillation history along with wildflowers during spring. 

There is a fantastic free campground on Karri Track and a picnic area on Settling Pond Track.

Gold prospecting around Kirk Dam

Gold prospecting is permitted in this part of the Paddys Ranges State Park, however please note that the gold puddler itself is a significant historical artifact and must not be disturbed. 

To check which other areas of Paddys Ranges you can gold prospect in, please see this map from Parks Victoria.


Maryborough is a popular destination for gold prospectors. Countless massive gold nuggets have been found throughout the region since the 1850s, with significant discoveries still being unearthed today! 

If you're interested in trying your luck gold prospecting around Maryborough, whether it's with a gold detector, gold pan, or sluice, we've put together this handy guide to get you started. 


DID YOU KNOW...

  • Bushwalking is an excellent way to get outdoors and exploring nature.
  • Evidence of the mid-late 1800's gold rush can be found throughout the Victorian goldfields in the form of abandoned mine shafts and tunnels, mullock heaps, buildings and ruins, circular puddling troughs, remains of cyanide vats, and quartz kilns.
  • Gold prospecting is the recreational act of searching for natural gold deposits in the ground using tools such as gold detectors, gold pans and gold sluices. The Goldfields region of Victoria is a popular destination for gold prospectors, with many of the world's largest alluvial gold nuggets found in the area!
 

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