Steiglitz Goldfield Maps – Explore Victoria’s Best-Preserved Historic Gold Town

 

Step into one of Victoria's most atmospheric and historically important goldfields with the detailed Steiglitz Goldfield research maps. Located west of Geelong in the Brisbane Ranges, Steiglitz was once a booming quartz reef mining centre during the 19th century. Today, it is preserved as part of the Steiglitz Historic Park, offering a unique opportunity to explore the remains of a true gold rush town frozen in time.

These maps are intended for historical research and educational purposes only. Gold fossicking is not permitted within Steiglitz Historic Park—only gemstone fossicking is allowed in limited designated areas nearby.

 

🪙 Historical Overview: Steiglitz – Quartz Reefs and Gold Rush Glory

Gold was first discovered at Steiglitz in 1854, sparking a major influx of miners seeking riches from the quartz reefs rather than easy alluvial gold. The discovery of the Steiglitz Reef, and later rich finds at New Chum Reef and Golden Reef, turned Steiglitz into a thriving mining township.

Between 1856 and 1870, Steiglitz became famous for its rich quartz reefs, with mining continuing intermittently well into the early 20th century. Unlike many fields built on alluvial rushes, Steiglitz’s prosperity came from hard rock mining—making it a fascinating study in the evolution of gold extraction techniques in Victoria.

Today, visitors can still explore the visible remains of crushing batteries, mining shafts, old roadways, and abandoned township buildings preserved within the Historic Park.

 

✨ Notable Historical Features

Rich quartz reefs produced ore grades up to 2 oz per ton, with visible gold in hand specimens

Historic mining remains include battery sites, poppet heads, shafts, and stone building ruins

Sutherlands Creek and its tributaries shaped the mining landscape, though little alluvial gold was ever extracted

Steiglitz is one of the best surviving examples of a 19th-century quartz reef mining town in Australia

The surrounding Brisbane Ranges contain gemstone fossicking areas (mainly for agates and quartz crystals)

 

🥾 Ideal For:

Historians researching Victoria’s quartz reef mining history

Heritage enthusiasts exploring Australia’s best-preserved gold rush town

Visitors and students interested in gold rush archaeology and industrial heritage

Gemstone fossickers looking for legal fossicking zones outside the heritage areas

 

⚠️ Important Fossicking Rules at Steiglitz

Gold fossicking is prohibited within Steiglitz Historic Park and immediate surroundings. Only gemstone fossicking (for minerals such as agate, jasper, and quartz crystals) is allowed in designated areas nearby within the Brisbane Ranges State Forest under a valid Victorian Miner’s Right.

Anyone exploring the Steiglitz area must respect:

Protected heritage sites and ruins (no digging or disturbance)

Rules against metal detecting for gold within the Historic Park

Staying on public tracks and designated walking routes

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Explore Steiglitz – Victoria’s Quartz Reef Goldfield Frozen in Time – With the Steiglitz Goldfield research map, you’ll walk through a vivid chapter of Victoria’s mining history, learning about the gold-rich quartz reefs that shaped an era. Perfect for historians, educators, and responsible explorers seeking to understand Australia’s gold rush heritage in a stunning natural setting.

 

Steiglitz Gold Field Map 1900s:

https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE7115430&mode=browse

 

Geological map of the Steiglitz gold field 1940

https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE9586189&mode=browse