Should You Quit Your Job & Become A Full Time Alluvial Gold Miner?

With gold hitting record highs in Australia, many people are asking whether now is the time to quit their job and try to live off gold. This article breaks down the real-world realities of full-time alluvial gold prospecting, focusing on Australian conditions and the Victorian goldfields. It explores how alluvial gold actually forms, why gold distribution is unpredictable, and why a good find doesn’t automatically translate into sustainable income. From overburden and recovery efficiency to legal limits, competition, costs, and psychological pressure, this piece explains what full-time prospecting really involves. It’s an honest look at whether alluvial gold mining can support a livelihood, who it might work for, and why it fails for most people despite high gold prices.