After nearly four decades of searching, Syd Pearson’s persistence paid off when he struck gold at a Victorian goldfields. The 68-year-old rubbish collector from Maryborough was thrilled to uncover a massive 4.3kg gold nugget after years of effort. Valued at nearly $300,000, he had no idea of its worth when he first unearthed it from the ground.
SYD Pearson vividly recalls the moment he struck gold in the vast gold fields of Victoria. While walking around a small area behind Dunolly last December, the 68-year-old detected a distinct hum from his metal detector. With excitement building, he used a pick axe to carefully uncover a spot that gave off a satisfying “clunk.” As he brushed away the dirt, his hands shook in anticipation, revealing a massive 4.3kg gold nugget – one of the largest ever found in Victoria’s historic goldfields. Overwhelmed with joy, the garbage man from Maryborough lit a cigarette and made himself a cup of tea, which he didn’t even have to stir due to the adrenaline rush of his extraordinary find.
After placing the stone in his toolbox, he rushed home to share the exciting news with his wife. He lovingly named the stone Lady Catherine in tribute to her. Now, Lady Catherine has become a notable part of Victoria’s history, adding to the story of the state’s modern gold rush era.
Situated in the heart of the ‘Golden Triangle’ between Avoca, Castlemaine, and Wedderburn, the area has attracted thousands of eager prospectors hoping to find their own fortunes.
The gold found in the area is incredibly pure, coming in at around 96%. To legally claim the gold, prospectors only need a $22 permit. President of the Prospectors and Miners Association of Victoria, Olly Oleszek, mentioned to the Herald Sun that Mr. Pearson’s nugget is one of the two found in the area within the last six months. This nugget is one of the largest discovered in the past decade, and there are still larger rocks waiting to be found underground.
Mr Pearson and his partner Jason have been searching for gold nuggets for many years, showing their dedication to the craft even after 166 years since the gold rush began. For them, it’s like a never-ending fishing trip, always chasing after the next big find. The famous Lady Catherine, once owned by them, has been sold to a buyer in the US, but not without Mr Pearson keeping two replicas as mementoes. One of these replicas is on display at the Melbourne Museum. Despite the challenges, Mr Pearson never lost hope of finding a significant nugget and finally struck gold when he uncovered a 2-kilogram nugget worth $140,000 in Central Victoria.
In another story of success, miners in Western Australia hit the jackpot by unearthing over $10,000,000 worth of gold in just four days. These awe-inspiring discoveries show that persistence and dedication to the hunt can truly pay off in the end. So, keep exploring new ground and who knows, you might just stumble upon some big gold nuggets of your own in the vast outback of Western Australia!
