Little Bendigo (Nerrina) Goldfield Prospecting Maps – Hunt for Gold at Ballarat’s Eastern Frontier

 

Unlock a fascinating and gold-rich chapter of Victoria’s history with the detailed Little Bendigo (Nerrina) Goldfield prospecting map. Located just east of Ballarat, the former Little Bendigo goldfield — now known as Nerrina — was an important early extension of Ballarat’s booming gold rush. Today, large areas of crown land surrounding Nerrina remain legally open to fossickers with a valid Victorian Miner’s Right, offering a golden opportunity for modern detectorists and panners.

This hidden corner of Ballarat’s gold belt still hides coarse nuggets, shallow leads, and ancient gold-bearing gullies — perfect for today’s prospectors.

 

🪙 Historical Overview: Little Bendigo’s Golden Beginnings

Gold was first discovered at Little Bendigo in late 1851, only months after the first great finds at Ballarat’s Golden Point. Though overshadowed by Ballarat’s explosive growth, Little Bendigo developed into a major alluvial field, attracting thousands of diggers by the mid-1850s.

Miners found rich shallow leads, gold-laden gullies, and nuggety drift along the slopes and flats. Later, small quartz reef workings were opened on the ridges. The area remained a consistent gold producer for decades, with new finds being made into the early 1900s.

Today, the open forest and creek flats around Nerrina offer some of the best easily accessible fossicking ground in the Ballarat district.

 

✨ Notable Finds & Field Highlights

Shallow alluvial diggings produced large nuggets and coarse flakes, with numerous finds over 5 ounces

Extensive shallow leads were worked around Nerrina Hill, Yorkshire Gully, and along the old Eureka Reef lines

Early records describe diggers recovering multiple ounces from surface wash in a single day

Small quartz reefs on the ridges yielded specimen gold and provided additional richness

Modern prospectors continue to find gold in both surface gravels and undisturbed shallow drift zones

 

🥾 Ideal For:

Detectorists hunting for coarse nuggets and shallow alluvial gold

Creek panners working ancient gold-bearing gullies and flats

History buffs tracing the forgotten diggings of Ballarat’s eastern fields

Beginner to advanced fossickers looking for easy-access goldfields close to Ballarat

 

⚠️ Fossicking Rules and Access Information

Fossicking for gold is permitted on crown land areas around Nerrina and Little Bendigo with a valid Victorian Miner’s Right

Respect private property boundaries—some old diggings are near residential zones

Avoid disturbing heritage-listed structures or sites within protected reserves

The GeoVic mapping tool is highly recommended to confirm land status before you prospect

Public forest and creek areas near Yorkshire Gully, Nerrina Hill, and Eureka Reef are excellent starting points

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Strike Gold in the Shadows of Ballarat’s First Rush – With the Little Bendigo (Nerrina) Goldfield prospecting map, you’ll rediscover one of Victoria’s earliest and most productive alluvial goldfields. From hidden nuggets in shallow wash to quartz-rich reef traces, Nerrina offers a genuine chance for adventure and real gold in Ballarat’s historic backyard.

 

Link to the Little Bendigo (Nerrina) Goldfield prospecting map 1900:

https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE15486541&mode=browse