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If you're looking to try your luck gold prospecting around Inglewood and Wedderburn, we've put together this handy guide to get you started!
If you haven't already got one, be sure to grab a Miners Right before you head out looking for gold (you can purchase one here).
WHERE TO GO GOLD DETECTING AROUND Inglewood and Wedderburn
As well as on crown land, gold prospecting is permitted in the following forests and reserves around Inglewood and Wedderburn.
Please note that this list is not complete (there are many smaller reserves throughout the area which aren't on this list), but will make a good starting point.
- Inglewood State Forest
- Kingower State Forest
- Glenalbyn State Forest
- Sunday Morning Hills State Forest
- Kooyoora State Park (designated areas only, see Parks Victoria's gold prospecting map for Kooyoora State Park)
- Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve (designated areas only, see Parks Victoria's prospecting map for the Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve)
GOLD PANNING AND SLUICING AROUND Inglewood and Wedderburn
Aside from the stunning Loddon River which runs through Bridgewater to the east of Inglewood, the Inglewood and Wedderburn region is typically quite dry with the exception of a few smaller creeks.
Creeks and rivers around Inglewood and Wedderburn where prospecting is not permitted
Some of the rivers and creeks around Inglewood and Wedderburn are off limits for prospecting, with the Loddon River and Bullabul Creek appearing on Earth Resources' list of rivers and streams where you can't prospect for gold.
Creeks and rivers around Inglewood and Wedderburn where prospecting is allowed
There are a few seasonal creeks around Inglewood and Wedderburn which are open for gold prospecting, including:
- Kingower Creek
- Hope Creek
- Ryan Creek
- Korong Creek
There are a huge amount of other very small small creeks and gullies throughout the area, which are typically dry but will hold a bit of water after a rainy period. Just be sure to double check that the creek or gully's name does not appear on that list of restricted rivers and streams before heading out.
There are a few mining dams throughout the bush which can be utilised for gold panning and highbanking as well. These can be spotted on Google Maps satellite view. These dams will generally hold water for longer throughout the year than the small seasonal gullies throughout the forests.
MAPS FOR THE AREA
- Dunolly and Inglewood State Forests FFM Forest Notes and map
- Kooyoora State Park Parks Victoria prospecting map
- Wychitella Nature Conservation Reserve Parks Victoria prospecting map
- Historical gold maps of the Victorian Goldfields
GOLD SHOPS, PROSPECTING TOURS AND DETECTOR HIRE AROUND INGLEWOOD AND WEDDERBURN
The closest gold shops and tours are located nearby in Bendigo.
- Bendigo Miners Den Retail shop, prospecting maps, gold prospecting workshops
- Gold Finger Historic Tours and Prospecting Workshops - gold prospecting workshops, historic tours, gold prospecting equipment hire
INTERESTING GOLD MINING HISTORY AROUND INGLEWOOD AND WEDDERBURN
State Gold Battery, Wedderburn VIC
The areas around Inglewood and Wedderburn are filled with fascinating ruins and relics of the region's rich mining history!
Places to explore include historic mines, old diggings, gold puddlers, surfaced areas, discarded boilers, and the remains of old cyanide plants.
These sites are definitely worth checking out while you're in the area:
- Inglewood Pioneers Memorial Park, Inglewood
- Hard Hill Tourist Reserve, Wedderburn
- State Gold Battery, Wedderburn
- Lonely Grave of Thomas Whyte, Wedderburn
- Tailings Dump and Cyanide Vats, Inglewood
- Psalm Singers Gully Gold Puddler, Inglewood
Free campgrounds around Inglewood and Wedderburn
Glenalbyn Campground, Glenalbyn VIC
- Hard Hill Tourist Reserve, Wedderburn
- Skinners Flat Reservoir, Wedderburn
- Melville Caves Campground, Brenanah (prospecting not allowed in this section of Kooyoora State Park, but is allowed in other areas nearby)
- Glenalbyn Camping Area, Brenanah
- Mount Korong, Glenalbyn
Accommodation in Inglewood and Wedderburn
Inglewood Motel and Caravan Park
Inglewood Motel and Caravan Park is a 10 acre bush park privately owned and managed by Jerry and Pauline Wellman in the gorgeous gold-rush town of Inglewood, Victoria. The park is within walking distance to cafes, shops and hotel entertainment, and is surrounded by State Forests. Inglewood Motel and Caravan Park is a popular destination for tourists and is located within the renowned Golden Triangle - a region of the Victorian Goldfields which is world famous for the size, purity, and quantity of gold nuggets found in the area.
STAY SAFE WHILE GOLD PROSPECTING
Always be wary where you are walking when gold detecting in the bush, as there are lots of unexpected open mine shafts throughout the area. You will also encounter uneven ground, slippery clay in wet weather, and there is always the possibility of encountering snakes in summer. Always let someone know where you are going before heading out bush.
Other local gold prospecting guides
SEE ALSO
- Guide to gold prospecting in the Victorian Goldfields
- Places to prospect in the Victorian Goldfields
- Interactive map showing lots of places to prospect in the Victorian Goldfields
- Gold-bearing creeks and rivers in Victoria
- Crevicing for gold in creeks and rivers
- Researching gold prospecting and history - online resources
- Surfacing in the Victorian Goldfields
- Gold shops, detector hire and gold tours in the Victorian Goldfields
- YouTube channels from the Victorian Goldfields
- Dangers of mine shafts in the Victorian Goldfields
- Online directory of Victorian gold maps
- Gold prospecting maps for Victoria's State and National Parks
- Historical gold maps of the Victorian Goldfields
- How to read historical gold maps
- Gold history locations on Goldfields Guide
PROSPECTORS AND MINERS ASSOCIATION VICTORIA
Established in 1980, the Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria is a voluntary body created to protect the rights and opportunities of those who wish to prospect, fossick or mine in the State of Victoria, Australia.
You can support the PMAV in their fight to uphold these rights by becoming a member. You'll also gain access to exclusive publications, field days, prospecting tips, discounts and competitions.
Check out the PMAV website for more information.
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