After nearly four decades of searching, Syd Pearson’s persistence finally paid off when he stumbled upon a massive 4.3kg gold nugget at a Victorian goldfields site. The 68-year-old garbage man from Maryborough couldn’t contain his excitement at the discovery, which turned out to be worth close to $300,000. Pearson had no idea of the nugget’s value when he first unearthed it, making the find even sweeter.
SYD Pearson can vividly recall the moment his luck turned in Victoria’s vast gold fields. It was last December, as he roamed a small plot of land behind Dunolly, when the 68-year-old heard the familiar buzz of his metal detector. With his trusty pick axe in hand, he chipped away at the ground until he heard a satisfying “clunk” that every prospector dreams of. With hands trembling, the Maryborough garbage man brushed off the dirt to reveal a massive 4.3kg gold nugget – one of the largest ever found in Victoria’s goldfields. “I sparked up a cigarette and brewed a cup of tea, but didn’t even have to stir it,” Mr Pearson chuckled.
After placing the stone in his toolbox, he excitedly drove home to share the good news with his wife. Wanting to pay tribute to her, he named the stone Lady Catherine. This unique find has now made its mark in Victoria’s history of prospecting, adding to the vibrant stories of the state’s modern-day gold rush. Located amidst Avoca, Castlemaine, and Wedderburn, the ‘Golden Triangle’ continues to attract thousands of hopefuls eager to discover their own fortune.
About 96% of the gold found in this area is extremely pure, making it one of the purest in the world. Prospectors can legally claim any gold they find by obtaining a $22 permit. The President of the Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria, Olly Oleszek, mentioned to the Herald Sun that Mr. Pearson’s nugget was one of two discovered in the past six months. This nugget is one of the largest found in the last ten years, with even larger rocks still waiting to be uncovered in the ground.
Mr Pearson and his long-time partner, Jason, have been on the hunt for gold nuggets for many years. Despite the 166 years that have passed since the gold rush began, they are still passionate about their search. According to Mr Pearson, it’s like fishing – they are always chasing after the next big find.
After selling their beloved Lady Catherine to a private buyer in the US, Mr Pearson had two replica nuggets created as keepsakes. One of these replicas now sits proudly on display at the Melbourne Museum.
Persistence paid off for Mr Pearson when he unearthed a massive 2-kilogram nugget worth $140,000 in Central Victoria, leaving him emotionally touched by the discovery.
In Western Australia, a group of miners struck it rich, finding over $10,000,000 worth of gold in just four days. The thrill of detecting new ground in the outback proved to be a lucrative venture for these lucky individuals.
