Omari Gates
Australia has produced some of the biggest gold nuggets in the world. The largest gold nugget ever found, dubbed the Welcome Stranger, was discovered in Moliagul, Victoria, Australia, in 1869 by John Deason and Richard Oates. It weighed 72 kilograms and was 61 centimetres long. Other large gold nuggets found in Australia include the Hand of Faith, discovered in 1980 in Kingower, Victoria, with a metal detector; the Normandy Nugget, found in 1995 in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia; and the Poseidon Nugget, unearthed in 1906 in Tarnagulla, Victoria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Welcome Stranger Nugget |
| Date of Discovery | 5 February 1869 |
| Discovered By | John Deason and Richard Oates |
| Place | Moliagul, Victoria, Australia |
| Weight | 72kg (2,332 ounces) |
| Length | 61cm (24 inches) |
| Current Location | A replica is in the City Museum in Melbourne |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Welcome Stranger is the largest gold nugget ever found
The Welcome Stranger was found during the Victorian gold rush, which saw thousands of people flock to the region in search of fortune. Moliagul, where the nugget was discovered, was a booming gold rush town with 11 pubs. The gold was buried just inches below the surface, lodged in the roots of a tree on a slope called Bulldog Gully. Deason described the moment of discovery, recalling that he tried to prise the nugget up with a pick, but the handle broke, so he resorted to using a crowbar to bring the enormous piece of gold to the surface.
The nugget was so large that it had to be transported to the town of Dunolly, about 12 miles (20 kilometres) away, where it could be weighed at the London Chartered Bank. A report in the local newspaper, the Dunolly & Bet Bet Shire Express, expressed delight that the "monster" nugget had been found by such "steady and industrious men". Indeed, the discovery of the Welcome Stranger marked a turning point in the lives of Deason and Oates, who became instantly wealthy.
Today, replicas of the Welcome Stranger can be found in museums, including the City Museum in Melbourne, Australia, and the Mineral Hall at the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. The original nugget was melted down, so only replicas and historical records remain. Despite this, the Welcome Stranger retains its status as the largest gold nugget ever discovered, with its size and weight being well-documented in historical sources.
Applying to Cambridge University: A Guide for Australians
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It was discovered in 1869 in Moliagul, Victoria
The largest gold nugget ever found was discovered in Moliagul, Victoria, Australia, in 1869. Weighing 72 kilograms (or 2,332 ounces), the nugget was dubbed the "Welcome Stranger". It was found by two Cornish miners, John Deason and Richard Oates, who were paid just under £10,000 for their discovery.
The Welcome Stranger was found on a slope called Bulldog Gully, where it was buried just below the surface. Deason described the moment of discovery, saying: "I tried to prise the nugget up with the pick but the handle broke. I then got a crowbar and raised the nugget to the surface". The gold nugget was so large that Deason was unable to prise it from the ground with a pickaxe, and he required a crowbar to lift it from the earth.
The Welcome Stranger was discovered during the Victorian gold rush, which saw thousands of people travel to Victoria, Australia, in search of wealth. Moliagul, where the nugget was found, was a booming gold rush town with 11 pubs. Today, Moliagul is largely a farming community, but gold speculators are still drawn to the area, which is known as the Golden Triangle.
The Welcome Stranger is considered the largest alluvial gold nugget ever found, with a calculated refined weight of 97.14 kilograms (3,123 ounces). It is one of two gold nuggets claimed as the largest in the world, the other being the Canaã nugget, which is the largest surviving natural nugget. However, in late 2018, a gold nugget weighing 89 kilograms was found in Western Australia, potentially surpassing the Welcome Stranger in size. This nugget is awaiting verification of its size and purity.
Australian Media: Government's Grip on Information
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Two Cornish miners, John Deason and Richard Oates, found it
The largest gold nugget ever found was the Welcome Stranger, discovered in Moliagul, Victoria, Australia, on 5 February 1869. It weighed 72 kilograms and was 60 to 61 centimetres long. Two Cornish miners, John Deason and Richard Oates, found the nugget. Deason and Oates were paid just under £10,000 for their find by the London Chartered Bank of Australia.
John Deason was born around 1834 in Cornwall, UK. He emigrated to Australia in 1853 to work as a prospector or "digger". Deason spent much of his life working in gold mining and workings. He lived in Moliagul, where the Welcome Stranger was found, until he died in 1915 at the age of 85.
Richard Oates was born around 1827 in Pendeen, Cornwall. He went to Australia in 1854, a year after Deason. After the discovery of the Welcome Stranger in 1869, Oates returned to the UK, got married, and went back to Australia with his wife. The couple had four children. The Oates family purchased land in Marong, Victoria, in 1895, and Oates farmed there until he died in 1906 at the age of 79.
Deason and Oates were not the only ones to strike gold in Moliagul, which was a booming gold rush town in the 1850s and 1860s. However, their discovery of the Welcome Stranger nugget stood out. It was buried just inches below the surface on a slope called Bulldog Gully. The gold was encased in quartz and was so big that Deason initially struggled to prise it up with a pick and had to use a crowbar instead.
Australian Ratings: 'Pompeii' Film Classification
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Weighing 72kg, it was 61cm long and sold for under £10,000
The Welcome Stranger is considered the largest gold nugget ever found, weighing in at 72kg and measuring 61cm in length. It was discovered in Moliagul, Victoria, Australia, in 1869 by John Deason and Richard Oates. The nugget was sold to the London Chartered Bank of Australia for £9,381, which is under £10,000.
The Welcome Stranger is an alluvial gold nugget, which means it was formed by the action of water in riverbeds or ancient watercourses. It is also referred to as a "reef gold" nugget, as it was found in quartz reefs sought after by hard-rock miners. The nugget is said to have been buried just inches below the surface when it was discovered.
The finders of the Welcome Stranger nugget were paid a considerable sum for their discovery, especially considering the time period. However, the value of gold has increased significantly since then, and today, the nugget would be worth much more.
While the Welcome Stranger is the largest alluvial gold nugget ever found, there have been larger masses of gold discovered. These include the Holtermann Nugget, found in New South Wales, Australia, in 1872, which weighed in at 290kg. However, the Holtermann Nugget is not considered a true "nugget" by some, as it was "reef gold" rather than a diamond nugget.
The Welcome Stranger is no longer in existence, as it was melted down into ingots. However, replicas of the famous nugget can be seen in museums in Melbourne and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Australian Birds' Diet: What Do They Eat?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Hand of Faith, found in Victoria in 1980, is another large gold nugget
Australia has produced some of the world's largest gold nuggets, with Victoria being a particularly abundant source. The Hand of Faith, found in Victoria in 1980, is another large gold nugget, weighing in at 27.2 kilograms or 875 troy ounces. It was discovered by Kevin Hillier, with some sources also citing his wife Bep as a co-discoverer. The nugget was found just 30 centimetres below the surface in bushland behind the old Kingower Primary School, near the township of Wedderburn in Victoria. The area is situated in the Central Victorian Goldfields and was popular during the 1850s Gold Rush.
The Hand of Faith is significant not only for its size but also for the remarkable story behind its discovery. Twelve days before finding the nugget, Kevin Hillier had a vivid dream that he later illustrated on a piece of paper and had his neighbour sign. Unbeknownst to him, the drawing would become an accurate prediction of the gold nugget he would find two weeks later. At the time of its discovery, the Hand of Faith turned the Hillier family's fortunes around, making them overnight millionaires.
The Hand of Faith is considered the largest gold nugget ever found with a metal detector. It was sold to the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, where it has been on public display since 1981. The nugget's finder, Kevin Hillier, is commemorated with a plaque at the site of discovery, recognising the inspiring story of faith behind the find.
The discovery of the Hand of Faith challenges the common rumour that Victoria's goldfields were exhausted in the 19th century. The Goldfields region of Victoria continues to be a popular destination for gold prospectors, attracting those seeking to uncover more of these hidden treasures. The area's rich history and ongoing allure showcase the enduring fascination with gold and the enduring pursuit of striking it rich.
Prescription Costs in Australia: Free or Fee?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The largest gold nugget found in Australia weighed 72 kilograms (11 stone) and measured 61 cm in length. It was nicknamed the Welcome Stranger.
The Welcome Stranger gold nugget was found on 5 February 1869 by two Cornish miners named John Deason and Richard Oates.
The Welcome Stranger gold nugget was found in Moliagul, Victoria, Australia. It was lodged in the roots of a tree on a slope called Bulldog Gully.
