Logan, Eddington, Kingower, Kooyoora State Park, Laanecoorie, Llanelly, Logan, Melville Caves, Moliagul, Newbridge, Rheola, Shelbourne, Tarnagulla, Waanyarra & Woodstock

This region forms part of Victoria’s Goldfields Region and is famous for its gold, bushrangers and natural features. The towns and settlements are typical gold or pioneer farming community towns, with wide streets planned for a future expansion that never came. Some towns exist now in name alone, but to read their history is to discover the dreams of forgotten generations.

Eddington, Laanecoorie, Shelbourne & Woodstock

Catering for water enthusiasts and people wanting a relaxing holiday, the Laanecoorie region has facilities to cover both, plus a depth of local history still visible in the buildings and bridges of the area.

Moliagul, Murphy’s Creek, Tarnagulla & Waanyarra

At the very heart of the Golden Triangle lies the place that according to official records yielded the greatest concentration of large nuggets ever taken from one small area anywhere in the world. This rich nugget deposit was discovered in 1906 by John Porter and was named the Poseidon Lead, located on the Tarnagulla goldfield the eastern side of the township.

In 1912 the Department of Mines published a report titled “List of Nuggets Found in Victoria” (reprinted by Hesperian Press in 1979). The list includes 98 ounces gross weight, all found on the Poseidon Lead. The largest among them was “The Poseidon Nugget” (Tarnagulla’s most famous nugget, it has a net weight of 703 ounces). All 98 large nuggets ere found between 1906 and 1912 at depths ranging from 10 inches to 85 feet below the surface. Two ere found on mullock heaps, each having come from an unknown depth. Many of those nuggets ere within reach of modern metal detectors, including the mighty “Poseidon”, which the record shows was found in shallow ground at only 10 inches below the surface and just 2 inches above bedrock.

The Poseidon Lead is on land that is now private property, but Tarnagulla’s road production has been far from limited to the Poseidon Lead alone. Nuggets have been found over a wide area around and in the township, but it is the eastern side that has produced the richest deposits of both nugget and reef gold, including the rich Poverty Reef. On the day in December 1852 when gold was first discovered at Sandy Creek, renamed Tarnagulla in 1860, a succession of gold discoveries was launched that has still not exhausted the supply of Tarnagulla gold. Today’s prospector is faced with far less arduous pick and shovel work: metal detectors have made it possible to electronically scan large tracts of land in a relatively short time. People using modern tech ology that can “see” the nuggets while they are still concealed in the ground, negating the need to dig up the entire area in order to locate nuggets that may be scattered about beneath the surface, are now regularly finding scattered and isolated nuggets. In earlier times the only way to search for those scattered nuggets, whether shallow or deep, was to laboriously dig for them in the earnest hope that the task would prove productive enough to make the effort worthwhile.

According to 1996 media report 4220,000 ounces of gold came from the Tarnaagulla goldfield during the nineteenth century. Much has been found since then and nuggets continue to found. Some of them are documented: but how many remain enshrouded in secrecy? From the Poseidon Lead 208 smaller nuggets, in addition to those of 20 ounces and above, are on record bringing the total of known nuggets from that location to over 300. Two of the many other noteworthy gold discoveries made on the Tarnagulla field were the highly productive Nuggetty Gully and ironbark Gully. A nugget of 461 ounces (gross weight ) was found at Ironbark Gully in 1889.

Tarnagulla has a long and impressive history of nugget and reef gold production. Integrating that with the fact that it is literally surrounded by other goldfields renowned for rich finds gives an indication of just what kind of potential still lies in the golden grounds of  Tarnagulla. Just a few kilometres to the west is Moliagul where “The Welcome Stranger”, the largest recorded nugget in history was found. To the north lies another productive field, Inglewood. To the northwest are the rich goldfields, of Wedderburn and Kingower (Hand of Faith” country).

East Tarnagulla lies the once fabulously rich Bendigo goldfield. Southwest is Dunolly, with Maryborough to the south, Castlemaine and Chewton lies to the southeast. Tarnagulla truly is at the heart of the “Golden Triangle”. The possibility should not be dismissed that there are more deposits similar to that of the Poseidon Lead – more concealed nests of gold giants – still to be discovered on the Tarnagulla goldfield. If so, who will be the next to make such a discovery?

Newbridge, Llanelly

Known as the “Fisherman’s Haven” Newbridge is a quiet picturesque town famous for its fish and hospitality. Campsites are available on the banks of the river. The quiet streets proved scope for walking and cycling.

Fishing - The Loddon River at Newbridge has long been known as a great relaxing spot to fish. Set in a picturesque valley close to all amenities it provides a great spot to stop.

Walking - The many tracks along the Loddon River and the local streets provide for quiet walking.

Sightseeing - The natural bush and historic streetscapes around Newbridge and Llanelly proved ample opportunities for bird watching, kangaroo spitting and viewing old buildings.

Kayaking & Canoeing - The Loddon River at Newbridge provides opportunities for peaceful canoeing or for trying your hand at Kayaking on the rapids.

Brenanah, Kingower, Kooyoora State Park, Melville Caves, Rheola & Logan

The wineries, State Park and historic regions covered in this area must be visited. Natural attractions, gold and liquid gold can be found within a few kilometres of each other. The Kooyoora State Park contains what is claimed to be some of the most significant Aboriginal Sites in Victoria.

Walking - The many tracks through the Kooyoora State Park proved attractions for short-term visitors or people camping at the Park.

Sightseeing - The natural bush and views from the lookout at Melville Caves proved panoramic views of the local countryside. Melville Caves, named after the bushranger Captain Melville are worth exploring. Local fold tales state that his gold is till buried in the area.