Prospecting and Gem Stone Fossicking in Queensland

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All children love to hunt for precious treasures, whether it be a special shell on the beach, a shiny rock on a walk or scavenging for a semi-precious gem - a treasure to call their very own.

With Autumn in the air and cooler day-time temperatures, what could possibly be more fun than an educational outdoor activity, searching for that elusive treasure.

Here's a list of six places in South East Queensland where you can do the real thing, so why not don your prospector's hats and get out there to see what treasures nature has to offer.

Fossicking in South East Queensland

You may fossick on most land throughout the state of Queensland, provided that you have a fossicking licence - family and individual licenses can be purchased here - and of course, the written permission of the landowner is required. National Parks and areas of native title are, however, definite no-go areas. You are permitted to collect gemstones, ornamental stones, mineral specimens, alluvial gold (including nuggets) and some fossil specimens. However, you are not permitted to collect meteorites or fossils of vertebrate animals.



Designated Fossicking Areas

These areas are signposted and have been established by the Government to promote local tourism. All you will need is a fossicking licence - no fees or special permissions are needed. It is worthwhile noting though that none of these sites have water or toilet facilities.

1. Deep Creek Fossicking Area - Approximately 2 Hours North of Brisbane

In 1867 alluvial gold was discovered in a gully near the Mary River, marking the first major gold rush in Queensland. As a result of the gold rush, the mining town of Gympie was founded. Today, tourists, holiday-makers and locals can try their luck in a gold-bearing gully in the town.



Access

Deep Creek is at the southern entrance to Gympie, between the Bruce Highway and Brisbane Road. From the south, exit the Bruce Highway at Brisbane Road or Jubilee Street and proceed along Araluen Terrace to Counter Street. From the north, exit along River Road and Graham Street to turn right into Victoria Street.
There are 2 entrance turnstiles, one each at the ends of Counter Street and Victoria Street. Yellow metal posts mark the boundaries of the fossicking area; please do not go outside these.

Deep Creek Fossicking Area Map


Facilities

Unfortunately, no camping or pets are allowed at the Deep Creek Fossicking Area. Accommodation in the form of motels, hotels and caravan parks is available in Gympie.

Fossicking Notes

This area was extensively worked initially, but it is likely that gold may still be found as a result of reconcentration over the years or in pockets missed by the early miners. The most likely places are along the banks and bed of the creek, in particular on the inside of the creek bends.
Panning is the simplest recovery method.

2. Thanes Creek Fossicking Area - Approximately 2 Hours Southwest of Brisbane

The Thanes Creek gold fossicking area is extremely popular with tourists and serious fossickers as it is easily accessed from the rural centre of Warwick.



Access

Thanes Creek is about 40km west of Warwick.

Take the Cunningham Highway travelling towards Inglewood. At about 37km from the Warwick Post Office, turn off to the right into Thanes Creek Road. The turn-off is 0.5km past the Thanes Creek Bridge, just past Thane railway siding. Cross the rail line and go 3.6km to the end of the bitumen and continue along the well-formed gravel road for a further 1.6km to a fork. Turn right into Hart Road and continue 2.5km to a second fork. Turn right into Big Hill Road and follow a further 0.9km to the fossicking area on the left.
The main entrance sign is visible from the road.

Thanes Creek Fossicking Area Map


Facilities

Camping is prohibited at this fossicking spot, but alternative accommodation can be sourced at nearby Warwick.

Fossicking Notes

The rocks in the Thanes Creek area include sandstone, mudstone, conglomerate, slate, chert, jasper, andesite and limestone. Alluvial gold in the gullies and creeks accumulated from the weathering of the rocks containing these reefs.

Colours of gold can be obtained from the alluvial sediments within the stream channel and from gravel layers in the low bank or possibly from crevices in rock bars. During dry times, water may be scarce but pools do remain in better seasons.
Panning is the simplest recovery method.

3. Talgai State Forest Fossicking Area - Approximately 2 hours Southwest of Brisbane

Sections of the Talgai State Forest have been released as general permission areas for gold fossicking. Fossickers must make sure they comply with the special conditions of access (see below for access details).



Access

Talgai State Forest is about 35km north-west of Warwick.

Take the Cunningham Highway west from Warwick for 8km before turning right into Sandy Creek Road, which turns into the Leyburn Cunningham Road. Pass through the town of Pratten (20km), then take Macalister Street, which turns into Margetts Street. Turn left into Big Hill Road, which will take you straight through the Talgai State Forest. Once inside the general permission areas, use only formed roads and tracks to access creek areas where alluvial deposits are found.

Talgai State Forest Fossicking Area Map


Facilities

Unfortunately, there are no facilities at the Talgai State Forest Fossicking area and camping is not permitted. Please remember to take your own water supplies as no permanent potable water supply is available and no water may be taken from dams, water bores or pump equipment.

Fossicking Notes

Colours of gold can be obtained from the alluvial sediments within the stream channels, from gravel layers in low banks or possibly from crevices in rock bars.
Panning is the simplest recovery method.

Special Conditions







4. Durikai State Forest Fossicking Area - Approximately 2 hours Southwest of Brisbane

As with the Talgai State Forest, sections of the Durakai State Forest have also been released as general permission areas for gold fossicking. Fossickers must ensure they comply with the special conditions of access (see below).

Access

The Durikai State Forest is on the Cunningham Highway 27km west of the city of Warwick in south-east Queensland. There are only three practical access routes, one to each site, all of them off the Cunningham Highway.
Inside the forest, use of motor vehicles is restricted to formed roads and tracks.

Durikai State Forest Fossicking Area Map


Facilities

Unfortunately no facilities are available in the Durikai State Forest and camping is also not permitted. There is a caravan park and a hotel in close proximity to this State Forest.

Please carry all water supplies as apart from the stock dams, there is no permanent water in the fossicking area. All creeks tend to dry up very quickly after streamflow events.

Fossicking Notes

Colours of gold can be obtained from the alluvial sediments within stream channels and from gravel layers in low banks or possibly from crevices in rock bars.
Panning is the simplest recovery method.

Special Conditions

The same conditions apply as for Talgai State Forest (see above) with the inclusion of an additional two:-


5. Swipers Gully Topaz Locality - Approximately 2.5 hours Southwest of Brisbane

Gem-quality topaz occurs on part of the Passchendaele State Forest , near the small township of Amiens, about 13km north-west of Stanthorpe. This is a general permission area so fossickers must ensure they comply with the special conditions of access (see below).

Access

From Amiens, head west along the Goldfields Road for about 0.7km and turn left into Pine Forest Road. Travel south for 1.4km, turn left, then almost immediately right and keep travelling south until you reach the 'T' junction (about 1.3km). Turn right and travel a further 0.6km. Swipers Gully fossicking site is located on the right.
Inside the forest, use of motor vehicles is restricted to formed roads and tracks.

Swipers Gully Topaz Locality Map


There are no facilities and camping is not allowed at Swipers Gully Topaz. There are several accommodation options in Stanthorpe. As water is not usually available in this area, please remember to bring your own.

Fossicking Notes

The rocks in this area are mainly granitic. Topaz and other gemstones and minerals are found in shallow alluvial gravels (wash) in Swipers Gully. The wash consists mainly of silt, sand and gravel fractions. Adjacent colluvial deposits (hillwash) may also have some potential. Tailings from previous mining operations in the area (now rehabilitated) offer an additional opportunity for gem finds.



The topaz is commonly colourless but pale blue, yellow and green (rare) have been found. Generally the stones are waterworn but crystals with well-developed faces are not uncommon. Other gemstones found include mainly quartz varieties, rock crystal (clear) and smoky quartz along with rare garnet and zircon. Fragments of cassiterite are also found.

As I mentioned above, water is not available in this area, so supplies will need to be brought in if wet sieving methods are going to be used.

Special Conditions

The same special conditions apply as the Talgai State Forest Fossicking Area - please read above.

6. Chinchilla Petrified Wood Localities - Approximately 3.5 hours Northwest of Brisbane



An abundance of petrified wood can be found in the Chinchilla area and is in great demand for its quality and colours.

Two landowners in the Chinchilla area have given general permission for fossicking at specific sites on their properties. Fossickers must make sure they comply with the special conditions of access (see below). The landowner has the right to terminate their permission and ask visitors to leave the land immediately if the conditions are not complied with.

If you would like to fossick elsewhere on the farm, than in the general permission areas, you must first obtain the landholder's written permission.

Good specimens can be easily found next to the roads in the area and collecting is only permitted from the ground surface in road reserves - NO digging is allowed.

Access and Entry fees

The town of Chinchilla is about 300km west/northwest of Brisbane on the Warrego Highway.



Greenswamp

Travel from the tourist information centre west along the Warrego Highway. At the 0.2km mark, turn left on to the overpass and travel straight along Heeney Street. At the 1.7km mark, turn right into Tara Road (towards the airport). At the 6.2km mark turn right into Greenswamp Road. The fossicking site is on the right at the 9.7km mark.

An entry fee is payable to the landowner (Kel Gaske) at the Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre, Warrego Highway, Chinchilla Qld 4413. Do not park across or block the access gate adjacent to the collecting site.

Lallalindi

From Greenswamp, travel west along Greenswamp Road, crossing Charleys Creek at the 1km mark. Turn right into Sturgess Baking Board Road at the 3.3km mark. The fossicking site is on the right at the 3.8km mark.

Alternatively, travel from the tourist information centre west along the Warrego Highway. Turn left into Sturgess Baking Board Road, cross the rail line and travel a distance of 8km to the fossicking site, located on the left.

An entry fee is payable at the Chinchilla Visitor Information Centre, Warrego Highway, Chinchilla Qld 4413. Please call the landowners, Donald and Lorraine Bell, on (07)4668 9193 before arrival.

Chinchilla Petrified Wood Localities Map


Facilities

Unfortunately, camping is prohibited in these areas but there are several motels, hotels and caravan parks in Chinchilla.
All visitors/prospectors need to be self-sufficient in supplies, including water.

Fossicking Notes

Good specimens of petrified palm have been collected from the Chinchilla area. Most of the petrified wood is found in unconsolidated gravels capping low ridges of the Kumbarilla beds. Material is easily collected from the ground surface or in drainages.

Special Conditions




Getting ready for your treasure-hunting trip

Before jumping in the car and heading off to gem-filled pastures, please check the Queensland Government's safety checklist. If you're not totally sure as to what tools you'll need, the QLD Govt also provide a list of tools. And, guess what, there's even a dedicated store in Brisbane, called Miners Den, that can assist you with all things 'fossicking'.

Now you're ready! Don your prospector's hat and let's go treasure hunting!

Information and maps are all courtesy of the Queensland State Government.**

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