Grey nomads are among those driving a massive resurgence in gold detecting in remote parts of the country.
Data from Western Australia’s Department of Mines and Petroleum shows the number of people applying for the most basic type of prospecting permit has more than doubled over the past decade.
In 2003, 1,192 people applied for permits, while by 2013, the figure was up to more than 3,000.
Australia’s history is littered with ‘gold rush’ eras, and grey nomads could be spearheading a new one.
Tony Bullen, the general manager of the department’s mineral titles division, told the ABC it was ‘definitely a growing industry’.
“There’s lots of interest in it, I dare say driven by that economic value of gold increasing,” he said. “We have seen a spike since 2008 and I think that reflects an increase in the gold price at around that time … it was about that time that the gold price went above $1,000 an ounce.”
Mr Bullen says advances in technology have opened up previously inaccessible gold deposits.
However, grey nomads and all treasure seekers need to be aware of the limitations as to where they can fossick and to always show due respect.
James Gardiner, the owner of Kununurra’s Hidden Valley Rock Museum, says there has been plenty of change in the Kimberley goldfields over the decades.
“In the old days you could wander in anywhere and go looking, but nowadays, ‘no’,” he told the ABC. “You’ve got to be careful of where you go and what you do, because all this land is under lease to various mineral companies, and it’s also Aboriginal land. As it should be.”
Are you a gold detector or a gem fossicker? Is it a good pursuit for grey nomads? What’s your biggest ‘find’? How important is it to your trip? Comment below.
Tax free money (to a point) is a great side benefit of prospecting. The gold price resurgence also means people will be a little more motivated to start swinging the coils again. What better way to pay for expenses on the road if you are good enough. From my experience about one in a hundred people detecting are good enough to make it a paying proposition and not a hobby. The rest just make the detector companies rich đŸ™‚
im not a gold detector or a gem fossicker but it sounds like a thing to have a go at.
Don’t want to be a stick in the mud BUT:-
To get a good result you are going to need a good detector.
If you havent yet mastered your smart phone then dont even think about a detector, they have knobs and dials and things on them.
The sales brochure will show a happy smiling person picking up nuggets everywhere.
Fact is, it’s going to be hot with little to no nuggets and lots of flies.
Any area where gold is to be found will be heavily pegged by others so you cant detect it legally and are forced to the outer edges of less likelyhood.
Although modern detectors are quite light, they will soon become a burden tracking through the bush hanging off your sholder.
I looked at one several years ago and now forget the price of the day but wase’nt cheap then had a good long think about when, where and how long I would use it.. I bet London to a brick if I bought it then it would still be brand new in the cupboard.
Just my thoughts.
Cheers.