Gold prospecting and fossicking

Gold prospecting and fossicking opportunities in Australia’s Golden Outback draw people from far and wide. To prospect in Western Australia, you require a Miner's Right for each person in your party. This gives you authorisation to prospect on:

• Unoccupied crown land that is not covered by a granted mining tenement.
• A pastoral lease that is not covered by a granted mining tenement – provided prior notice is given to the pastoralist.
• A mining tenement - providing you have permission from the tenement holder.
• A granted exploration licence, after having been granted a three-month section 20A permit.

It is important to note that gold prospecting and fossicking cannot be carried out in national parks, nature reserves, on Aboriginal land and heritage sites, within townsites or other classified areas such as cemeteries. You must seek permission from the landowner to enter private property, such as farmland.

For more information about prospecting in Western Australia, download the 7 golden rules for prospecting flyer.

You can also visit the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety website, or call (08) 9222 3333.

Gold Rush History

The Western Australian gold rush began with the first discovery of gold in the late 1890s. News of the gold spread as fast as the region’s wildfires and soon gold prospectors were arriving to seek their fortune and set up gold rush towns in the dusty landscapes of the Kalgoorlie, Goldfields and Murchison regions.

They came slowly at first, but as the finds grew so too did the population. Lonely clusters of tents and rough bough sheds were soon transformed into booming Western Australian gold rush towns. Grand hotels lined the main streets and bustling town centres soon boasted butchers, bakers, schools and churches. And with the completion of the Golden Pipeline, this arid region was given a constant supply of fresh water.

Many of the original townships remain and though the populations are not as huge, the character buildings and museums provide a fascinating glimpse into the wild and colourful spirit of the gold rush era.

Take a journey of discovery, starting at Hannans North Tourist Mine in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and visiting some of the region’s many museums. Try your luck at gold prospecting and fossicking in the Goldfields. Or follow the Golden Quest Discovery Trail, leading you through the gold rush towns of Coolgardie, Laverton and Gwalia.

Check out Outback heritage trails for more details about attractions that explore the fascinating history of the Western Australian gold rush.