After a 37-year search, Syd Pearson’s luck finally turned when he unearthed a huge 4.3kg gold nugget at a Victorian goldfield. The 68-year-old garbage man from Maryborough couldn’t believe his eyes when he found the valuable rock, which is now worth nearly $300,000. Pearson had been searching for years and was overjoyed to finally strike gold.
SYD Pearson can vividly recall the moment he struck gold in Victoria’s vast gold fields. Walking through a small area behind Dunolly last December, the 68-year-old was alerted by the familiar sound of his metal detector. After digging at the spot with a pickaxe, he felt a satisfying “clunk” that would excite any prospector. With hands trembling, the waste collector from Maryborough brushed away the dirt to unveil a 4.3kg gold nugget – one of the largest ever found in Victoria’s historic goldfields. “I lit a cigarette and brewed a cup of tea, but I didn’t even have to stir it,” Mr. Pearson recalled with a grin.
After placing the stone in his toolbox, he eagerly drove home to share the exciting news with his wife. To show his appreciation for her, he affectionately named the stone Lady Catherine. This special stone has now become a significant part of Victoria’s history, adding to the vibrant story of the state’s modern-day gold rush.
Located within the ‘Golden Triangle’ surrounded by Avoca, Castlemaine, and Wedderburn, this stone has attracted numerous enthusiasts hoping to find their own fortune in the area. Thousands have returned to the region, eager to strike it rich and uncover the treasures that lie hidden within the grounds.
With its purity at approximately 96 percent, the gold unearthed in this region is regarded as some of the purest worldwide. Those seeking to mine can simply obtain a $22 permit to lawfully own any gold they may uncover. Olly Oleszek, president of the Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria, informed the Herald Sun that Mr. Pearson’s nugget is one of two discovered within the past half-year. This discovery is one of the largest in the last ten years, indicating that even bigger rocks are still waiting to be unearthed.
Mr. Pearson and his partner Jason have been searching for gold nuggets for many years and have no intention of stopping. They compare it to the thrill of fishing, always seeking that next big catch. After selling their prized Lady Catherine to a buyer in the US, they had replicas made to remember their find. Mr. Pearson never lost faith in finding a significant nugget and his persistence paid off when he found a 2-kilogram nugget worth $140,000 in Central Victoria.
In Western Australia, miners struck gold worth over $10,000,000 in just four days, showing that there are still treasures to be found in the outback. The excitement of discovering big gold nuggets continues as new ground is being explored by adventurous individuals.
