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There are many fantastic resources available online for researching gold prospecting locations and local gold history in the Victorian Goldfields.
Multiple organisations provide digitised historical publications such as geological maps, mining reports, newspaper articles and more.
There are comprehensive online mapping applications which allow users to build their own maps using a huge range of data sources.
Online forums offer priceless insights into all aspects of gold prospecting methods/equipment along with learning to use knowledge of local gold history to your advantage when searching for gold.
There are websites and blogs filled with educational articles and guides, as well as YouTube channels created by local prospectors which document their gold discoveries, equipment tests, prospecting methods and more.
The following list provides links to a range of online resources which are useful for anyone researching places to go gold prospecting as well as the history of gold in Victoria / Australia.
This list will be added to over time, follow the Goldfields Guide Facebook page for updates.
Digitised historical books, reports, newspapers and maps
- National Library of Australia
- State Library of Victoria, also check out their gold miners/mining research guide
- Trove - Australian resources. Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more.
- Earth Resources - Geological Survey of Victoria - Online Catalogue
- Gold rush diaries and memoirs
- Historical gold maps of the Victorian Goldfields
Online mapping applications
- Geovic - Free online mapping application that enables you to build your own earth resource related maps, perform searches and access data, using a huge range of data sources.
- AUSGIN Geoscience Portal - Free online data discovery and analysis portal for geoscience data from all of Australia's state, territory and federal governments. Includes 1:250 000 scale scanned geological maps.
- Victorian Online Gold Maps - Purchase easy to use mapping packages to explore gold mines, shallow workings, quartz reefs, deep leads and Crown land. It can be used on a PC, tablet or mobile phone. There are 10 maps in the series covering 125 named Victorian goldfields.
Gold prospecting forums
Websites
- Gold prospecting and gold history resource directory
- Gold prospecting locations in the Victorian Goldfields
- Historical Gold Maps
- Treasure Chat NEWS
- Earth Resources - maps, reports and data
- Earth Resources - Recreational fossicking
- Parks Victoria - Fossicking and prospecting
- Victorian Heritage Database - Lists the State's most significant heritage places, objects and historic shipwrecks protected under the Heritage Act 2017.
- eGold - Electronic encyclopedia of gold in Australia, Cultural Heritage Unit, The University of Melbourne
- Dunolly Museum
- The Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria (PMAV)
- Coiltek - Blog
- Miners Den - Education
- National Museum Australia - defining moments - gold rushes
- Sovereign Hill Education Blog
- Gold Price
YouTube Channels
- Vo-Gus Prospecting
- Adventure Gold
- The Victorian Historical Mine Shaft Chasers Inc
- The Historical Undergrounds Mines of Victoria
- List of gold prospecting YouTube channels from the Victorian Goldfields
TV shows
- The Weekend Prospector - Season 3, hosted by Andrew Bales
Check current water levels of creeks and rivers
- Join the Gold Hunters Group on Facebook, they have a pinned post where you can ask about water levels of any creek and people who have recently been will let you know how much water there is. Gold Hunters Group is a great community resource for gold prospectors. As it is a private group you will need to request to join before viewing any posts, but it is worth it for the info they provide.
If you have any other suggestions for this list, get in touch via our contact form or Facebook page. Cheers!
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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