Blackwood Goldfield Prospecting Maps – Explore the Rugged Beauty of Victoria’s Forest Goldfields

 

Step into one of Victoria’s most scenic and historically rich goldfields with the detailed Blackwood Goldfield prospecting maps. Hidden within the towering forests of the Wombat State Forest, Blackwood became famous during the 1850s gold rushes for its rich alluvial creeks, deep leads, and later quartz reef discoveries. Today, with extensive areas of crown land and state forest accessible to fossickers holding a valid Victorian Miner’s Right, Blackwood offers a perfect combination of gold, history, and breathtaking natural beauty.

 

🪙 Historical Overview: Blackwood’s Forest of Gold

Gold was first discovered around Blackwood in 1854, when diggers working the Lerderderg River and nearby creeks stumbled upon rich alluvial deposits. The field grew rapidly as word spread of the coarse gold found along the river flats and within the forested gullies. Areas such as Golden Point, Yankee Creek, Simmons Reef, and Barry’s Reef became bustling centres of activity. By the late 1850s, attention turned to quartz reef mining as shallow alluvial deposits began to deplete, leading to the development of reef lines that would continue to yield gold well into the early twentieth century. Blackwood’s mixture of rich creek workings, extensive shallow diggings, and rugged reef country makes it one of the most diverse and historically important goldfields in Victoria.

 

✨ Notable Finds & Field Highlights

Early diggers at Blackwood reported recovering gold by the ounce from the creeks and flats surrounding the Lerderderg River. Coarse nuggets and fine gold were common in the auriferous gravels of Yankee Creek, Golden Point, and Garden of Eden Creek. Quartz reefs such as Simmons Reef and Barry’s Reef produced excellent specimen gold, often with visible gold in quartz, and became the foundation of Blackwood’s sustained mining success. Some of the reefs yielded exceptionally rich ore, at times producing multiple ounces per ton. Even today, modern detectorists continue to find nuggets and specimen gold across the forested hills and dry gullies surrounding Blackwood, particularly in areas lightly worked by early miners.

 

🥾 Ideal For

Blackwood is ideal for detectorists hunting for coarse nuggets in old creek beds, gullies, and forest flats, as well as for those chasing specimen gold along quartz reef outcrops and dumps. Panners will find the creeks and tributaries feeding the Lerderderg River still offer fine gold and occasional small nuggets after heavy rains. History lovers will enjoy walking through a landscape full of mining relics, from abandoned shafts to old tramways and battery sites, all framed by spectacular forest scenery. Whether you are a first-time fossicker or a seasoned prospector, Blackwood offers a rewarding and beautiful goldfield experience.

 

⚠️ Fossicking Rules and Access Information

Fossicking for gold is permitted on crown land, state forest, and designated public waterways around Blackwood with a valid Victorian Miner’s Right. Large areas of fossicking ground exist within the Wombat State Forest, but prospectors must avoid entering the Lerderderg State Park proper, where fossicking is prohibited. Always check current land status using the GeoVic mapping tool and be aware of any local restrictions to protect heritage sites and natural areas. Popular starting points for fossickers include Simmons Reef Road, Yankee Road, Garden of Eden Track, and the old workings around Barry’s Reef.

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Find Gold Among the Forests and Creeks of Victoria’s Hidden Gem – With the Blackwood Goldfield prospecting map, you can uncover the secrets of one of Victoria’s most beautiful and historic goldfields. From nuggets hidden in ancient creek beds to specimens waiting on forgotten reefs, Blackwood offers gold, adventure, and the magic of the forest.

 

Blackwood Goldfield Map, County of Bourke cartographic material / topographically and geologically surveyed 1937:

https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE7004255&mode=browse

 

Gorong & portions of Blackwood & Myrniong Gold Field Map 1931:

https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE7004089&mode=browse

 

Township of Blackwood, County of Bourke 1856:

https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE7020648&mode=browse