A new 507-hectare fossicking area is now available in Blair Athol State Forest near Clermont.
State forests in the Clermont area are tremendously popular for gold fossicking and the new Brigalow General Permission Area (GPA) complements other GPAs in Blair Athol State Forest.
These include McMasters GPA, Birimgan East and Birimgan West GPAs, and Four Mile (West) and Four Mile (East) GPAs, making a total of more than 11,000 hectares.
The Bathampton GPA within Apsley State Forest and McDonald Flat GPA within Copperfield State Forest are closer to the Clermont township.
Fossicking is popular in Queensland, with the State’s diverse geological landscape, mineral deposits and gemstone-rich areas making it an ideal destination for enthusiasts seeking unique and valuable finds.
Regional Director of Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service’s Central Region, Claire Grant, said QPWS supported fossicking on QPWS-managed lands when it is consistent with the management intent of the area, as in the case of Blair Athol State Forest.
“Here, surface gold can be found using metal detectors and hand tools such as picks, sieves and pans,” Ms Grant said.
“The discovery of alluvial gold in gullies south of Clermont in 1861 triggered one of Queensland’s major gold rushes.
“Today, the old gold mining district surrounding Clermont attracts interest from fossickers and metal detector enthusiasts and is also home to several gold mining leases.”
In Queensland, fossicking is a regulated activity under the Fossicking Act 1994 (administered by the Department of Resources).
Fossickers must hold a valid fossicking licence that can be purchased online and comply with the special conditions for fossicking on the State forest GPAs in the Clermont area.
