Ballarat Area Victoria information and questions

[KiwiKaren]

Great tips!

Jon - I just googled the Mining Exchange and they are on the same street as the hotel I booked! Will definitely check them out
Araluen - What did you think of Blood on the Southern Cross? I looked into this but it seems a bit expensive and I decided to splurge on the detecting day instead. Was it what you were expecting?

 

[old hand]

Gold and Relics is a well run tour Darren will look after you ,a cheap place to have meals is the Minerdome sports club a good meal for around $10 its just a little way out of Ballarat .Hope the weather is kind to you and your family enjoy your stay in Ballarat regards john

 

[KiwiKaren]

Thanks John! I checked the weather and it should be right on Thursday for detecting - forecast 4-22deg partially cloudy.
Didnt win on the cup today so need a giant nugget. Hoping for beginners luck

 

[gcause]

So at the last minute I managed to get this week off work.
Wanted a get away from the city to chill out so talked my husband into going to Ballarat! Only there for three nights but better than nothing
Catching the V line up there and booked a hotel with a spa (whoohoo!) ALSO booked a day out prospecting with Gold Relics. Will get a tour of the gold fields, a history lesson, lunch and the full afternoon using a metal detector and a lesson on the different coils etc.
Hoping my husband catching the prospecting/fossicking bug so wish me luck!

PS. Any tips on Must See/Do while there? Will be on foot or catching taxi so nothing too extreme distance wise.

Going green with envy would love to get down to Victoria one day and do the whole Golden Triangle.

I even bought my Victorian Miners Right so I live in hope.

Hope you and your hubby have a great time

 

[karu]

Hope you had fun. I took my son to Sovereign Hill many years ago. He wouldn't leave the gold panning area. Luke is now a 36yo Geological Engineer and is Operations Superintendent of one of two operating gold mines in Victoria. Needless to say, I am quite proud of my efforts of 20 years ago. If you are not busy this coming Saturday, the mine is having a public open day from 10:00. The mine is located approx. 40km east of Bendigo. You will need a car to get there. PM Me if you are interested.

Cheers, Len

 

[SWright]

Hi KiwiKaren

Sorry did not reply earlier as have been busy at work. The Blood on the Southern Cross I thought, when I heard about what it was, would be a little silly but I actually enjoyed it greatly, except we went in winter and it was as cold as! Even getting into Sovereign Hill is a bit expensive but its well worth it.

Araluen

 

[misty]

Hi everyone
a quick note to say thanks for all the nice comments and encouragement I have received over the last 10 months since I have been on the forum.
We are now packed and ready for the move back across the ditch having been made redundant at the end of September.
Since the "gold" chain episode a few weeks ago I have not picked up any thing worth showing. Usual few coins but I did find a couple of pre decimal pennies ,1 half penny and 2 sixpences when in was looking for my mates wifes engagement ring but no ring.
I am not leaving the forum just the country
I will up date from time to time from Marlborough New Zealand on the claim that my son and I are hoping to acquire.
We have already have had some samples which I showed on the forum just after Fathers day
I would dearly have loved to have had more of a lap around this great country but not on this trip.
All the best to you all.
Be safe out there
Regards and thanks again
Misty

 

[Jaros]

Nice to hear from you Misty. Hope to hear from you from across the ditch and good luck with the claim.
Cheers, we are not far away.
Jack

 

[KiwiKaren]

Hope you had fun. I took my son to Sovereign Hill many years ago. He wouldn't leave the gold panning area. Luke is now a 36yo Geological Engineer and is Operations Superintendent of one of two operating gold mines in Victoria. Needless to say, I am quite proud of my efforts of 20 years ago. If you are not busy this coming Saturday, the mine is having a public open day from 10:00. The mine is located approx. 40km east of Bendigo. You will need a car to get there. PM Me if you are interested.

Cheers, Len

So sorry I am only reading this today a whole week late! Would have loved to have gone and thank you for letting me know. I have forgotten my password for this site so cant log in on my phone (my laptop has stored it luckly) and I hardly ever turn on my laptop at the moment. Think I need to get that sorted so I can keep up to date in here!

I had a great time in Ballarat and wend to Sovereign Hill and saw Blood on the Southern Cross and on our day out with Gold and Relics I found my first ever gold nugget!!
I will post a photo in the right part of the forum for sharing finds
Thanks for all the advice/comments guys

 

[ezpacer]

G'day fellow Gold Chasers,

Seeking your experienced advice in preparation for one week in March detecting around Ballarat. I'm obtaining my miner's right online this week. I will have a car (if I've not smashed it on the way due to driving the wrong lane.....) and am planning to camp. I would be glad to have any advice regarding the area...general directions to good places to hunt, good camp areas, the maps you recommend I use, where they can be obtained, and any other points you think should be covered. I plan to travel self contained, and will be happy to camp on the gold area. I plan to buy digging equipment, does anyone have a recommendation regarding pick, etc, and where it can be bought? I want a long handled pick (30-36 inch handle) as weight for such a short time will not be an issue. I will be bringing most camp items with me (tent, swag, cooking articles, etc.)
Any advice on local creatures? Are snakes, mosquitos, etc. issues? Thanks for your responses!

Glenn

 

[mbasko]

Only been as far down as around Bendigo.
Some Ballarat info:
http://www.visitvictoria.com/Regions/Goldfields/Destinations/Ballarat?d=default

http://visitballarat.com.au/historic-villages/central-goldfields.aspx

Maps:
http://www.minersden.com.au/ballarat-nerrina-gold-detecting-guide/

http://www.minersden.com.au/ballarat-smythesdale-goldfields-map/

http://www.minersden.com.au/search.php?search_query=john+tully

Detector/supplies shop:
http://www.goldballarat.com.au/

Venomous snakes are found throughout Australia so care needs to be taken in any area. Most detectorists will carry a first aid kit for snake bites. May also pay to read up on first aid treatment for Australian snakes & spiders as it can differ from overseas venom treatment.
http://www.healthdirect.gov.au/snake-bites
http://www.healthdirect.gov.au/spider-bites

For mozzies/flies etc.:
http://www.aerogard.com.au/products/tropical-strength/ or similar.

Good luck & hope you enjoy Australia.

 

[casper]

G'day ezpacer,

My suggestion is head for the "Golden Triangle" were the worlds largest gold nugget was found which i'm sure you already know! The triangle historically was the area bounded by Tarnagulla, Dunolly and Moliagul although for tourism reasons it is now drawn wider to encompass a couple of equally interesting regional gold towns - and it's only 90 mins drive from Ballarat. My favorite place is Waanyarra and as a bonus there is free camping in the Dunolly State Forest at Waanyarra and it's only 20 mins from Dunolly if you run dry on beer

Google those names mentioned above and you'll find a wealth of information - post on the forum when you get there and I'll point you to "Secret Hill" where the 1 ouncer below came from.........

cheers ... casper

 

[docjohnson9]

Geez Casper, any chance you can point me in the direction of "Secret Hill."

 

[casper]

It's a real place but not marked on any map I've seen - if you do some newspaper reseach on https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper you can easily work out where it is - or check through my earlier posts....

casper

 

[casper]

the 3 most important aspects of gold prospecting are Research, Research, Research....

casper

 

[docjohnson9]

the 3 most important aspects of gold prospecting are Research, Research, Reseach....

casper

Yes, that's what everyone tells me mate.

Anyway, found the map from older posts.

 

[casper]

.... good advice then eh!!!

 

[ezpacer]

Doc, leave me just one or two from the "hill" Mbasko and Casper many thanks for your generous advice. I promise to research diligently all that you have shared, and hope there will be many more suggestions given, prior to my arrival. I have to agree with many who have said it before on this forum, the true gold is the comraderie and friendship shared amongst this group. Mbasko, I already know that I will come away even fonder for Australia than I presently am, with no firsthand experience as of yet. I'm excited to have your support, knowing that my time spent there will be well concentrated on good ground, and less wasted thrashing around as could be the case otherwise. I hope to meet some of you when I come. And truly hope I can also post a great looking piece of Aussie gold in the show and tell.

Cheers,

Glenn

 

[LC76]

Good luck when you get here mate.
Nice poem in your sig to.

 

[G0lddigg@]

hey ezpacer

I would suggest Creswick as an easy Camp public toilets and plenty of ground to detect, once your down here i'd be happy to grab a coffee and show you some good general areas to work where nuggets have been pulled before.

My advice would be to support the locals (I'm bias I live here )you can buy a pick from E.E day and sons now Gold Ballarat they have the large long handled hoe pick i'm getting one this week myself. http://www.goldballarat.com.au/

re maps - I'd head into aussie disposals in town to get your gold maps. they have the Doug stone maps which is all you really need to see the gullies and worked areas. again if we grab a coffee your welcome to scribble some info off my maps onto yours to kick off your search. I've spent alot of time in Creswick and there are many patches still being found each month due to logging. There's so much ground to walk over it would take a bloke a lifetime. regardless of where you land i'm sure you will have a ball.