Attention all prospectors! A brand-new gold fossicking area has just opened in QLD in the Blair Athol State Forest near Clermont, making it the perfect destination for your next RV adventure.
Spanning 507 hectares, this new Brigalow General Permission Area (GPA) adds to the already stacked gold fossicking landscape of Blair Athol State Forest in QLD. The region, famous for its gold fossicking opportunities, now boasts an impressive network of GPAs. These include McMasters, Birimgan East and West, and Four Mile (East and West). Together, these areas offer over 11,000 hectares of prime fossicking grounds.
But that’s not all. Near the Clermont township is also Bathampton GPA in Apsley State Forest and McDonald Flat GPA in Copperfield State Forest. These locations are also treasure troves for gold fossicking, making the Clermont area in QLD a hotspot for enthusiasts.
Queensland is your cure for gold and gem fever
Fossicking is popular in Queensland, with the State’s diverse geological landscape, mineral deposits and gemstone-rich areas making it an ideal destination for those with gold and gem fever.
Regional Director of Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service’s Central Region, Claire Grant, said QPWS supported fossicking on QPWS-managed lands when it is consistent with the management intent of the area, as in the case of Blair Athol State Forest.
“Here, surface gold can be found using metal detectors and hand tools such as picks, sieves and pans,” Ms Grant said.
The history of gold fossicking in this region of QLD dates back to 1861. It was then that the discovery of alluvial gold south of Clermont sparked one of Queensland’s major gold rushes. Today, the old gold mining district continues to attract fossickers and metal detector enthusiasts, with several active gold mining leases in the area.
Need to know before you go
In QLD, gold and gem fossicking is a regulated activity under the Fossicking Act 1994 (administered by the Department of Resources). Fossickers must hold a valid fossicking licence that can be purchased online and comply with the special conditions for fossicking on the State Forest GPAs in the Clermont area.
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