Yes, you can generally keep gold found on your own land, but it depends on your specific mineral rights (which often stay with the government/Crown in Australia) and local laws, requiring permits for recreational prospecting, limiting machinery, and sometimes requiring reporting, though hobby finds often aren't taxed, according to Australian government sources https://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/fossicking-a-guide-to-fossicking-in-nsw.pdf, https://www.wa.gov.au/service/natural-resources/mineral-resources/prospecting-obligations-on-crown-land, and Quora/Reddit discussions https://www.quora.com/What-happens-if-we-find-gold-on-our-property-in-Australia,. Laws vary by state, but hand tools and small amounts for hobbyists are usually okay, though commercial mining requires leases.
Yes, in most Australian states, you can generally keep gold you find, especially as a hobbyist on {!nav}Crown land, but you typically need a Miner's Right or prospecting permit, and rules vary by state, with Tasmania having stricter laws where gold may remain Crown property. The key is proper licensing, respecting land ownership, using hand tools (no explosives/heavy machinery), and distinguishing between hobby finds (often tax-free) and commercial mining.
Many new prospectors wonder whether the gold they dig up is taxable. Here's the breakdown: If you're out detecting or panning as a hobby, the gold you find is considered a windfall gain. Hobby finds are not taxed, even if you sell them.
A fossicking license is required in all other State Forest areas. More details can be obtained from Forestry NSW (Bathurst Office 6331 2044). Gold, sapphires, zircons, occasionally diamonds, smokey quartz. Fossicking in other than designated fossicking areas or private property requires permission from the owner.
The value of your gold is based on its weight and purity. It doesn't matter what kind of condition the gold deposits you find are in – if it's gold, it's valuable. It may be tougher to sell to your neighbor, but not to us!
The rules do vary depending on where in the states you are planning to search for gold but, largely, as long as the use is recreational and you're not using any sluices or high-powered tools, any gold findings should be yours to keep.
If you invested $1,000 in gold 10 years ago (around late 2015/early 2016), your investment would likely be worth significantly more today (late 2025), potentially in the range of $2,000 to over $3,000, reflecting substantial price appreciation, though less than the S&P 500 but outperforming during certain periods of market stress, acting as a hedge against uncertainty, with returns varying based on exact entry/exit points and premiums/spreads.
The main difference is intent and scale: prospecting is the broader search for valuable minerals (often commercially) using various tools (including detectors), while fossicking is specifically the small-scale, recreational gathering of minerals for a hobby (collection, lapidary, education) with hand tools only, excluding commercial sale and mechanical equipment, though terms overlap, especially in Australia where both refer to hobby-like mineral hunting.
You must obtain permission from the landowner before using a metal detector. This includes land to which the public have rights of access such as beaches, footpaths, or council-owned land.
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
And the Kalgoorlie Boulder region is perfect for fossicking. The visitor center has guides to the gold fields and folks who are happy to share local knowledge.
And since gold is an investment asset, when you sell your gold and make a profit, it's taxed as capital gains. However, depending on how you hold your gold, you will either have to pay taxes at the ordinary capital gains rate or a general rate of 28%.
Lines are stretching out the door at gold traders, but one Victorian prospector is proving you can still strike it rich the old-fashioned way. Chris Bogusis says a good day panning for gold could earn you up to $15,000.
The Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws significantly limit the ability to sell large amounts of gold without identifying yourself. Dealers in precious metals are obliged to comply with these laws, which often means they must collect personal information from individuals selling gold.
$100,000 worth of gold looks surprisingly small, often just a small stack of coins or a single large bar, because gold is so dense; it's roughly 22 to 27 one-ounce coins or around 3 to 4 kilograms (7-9 lbs), depending on the current price (around $2,900-$3,700/oz in late 2025/early 2026), appearing as a compact, heavy pile, not a huge amount.
Declaring Gold To The Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
Gold Bullion: If you own gold bullion as an investment, you must calculate and report your capital gain or loss on your tax return. Gold received as a gift from friends or family members is not taxable and does not need to be reported on your income tax return.
Metal detecting is something that anyone is lawfully entitled to do. However, you cannot trespass to do it. If land is tenanted, both the tenant's and, in most circumstances, the landlord's consent must be obtained and vice versa if it is the land owner wanting to grant someone permission to metal detect.
NSW: No licence is required for recreational fossicking in NSW unless you are planning on fossicking in State forests, a permit can be obtained online and is $27.50 for 12 months and covers a family of five.
You can keep modern finds and everyday objects from metal detecting, but you're legally required to report potential treasure within 14 days. Always get landowner permission before detecting, and avoid restricted areas like scheduled monuments.
That's where the 5 Ps of prospecting come in. This simple framework—Purpose, Preparation, Personalization, Perseverance, and Practice—helps sales teams focus on what matters. It works for both traditional techniques like cold calling, and new approaches like social selling.
Yes, in most Australian states, you can generally keep gold you find, especially as a hobbyist on {!nav}Crown land, but you typically need a Miner's Right or prospecting permit, and rules vary by state, with Tasmania having stricter laws where gold may remain Crown property. The key is proper licensing, respecting land ownership, using hand tools (no explosives/heavy machinery), and distinguishing between hobby finds (often tax-free) and commercial mining.
I can argue that spring can be the best time because fresh material and its been releasing fossils throughout the winter. On the other hand, I can argue that in the fall can be the best because of the amount of storms that must have occurred since the spring and material was being washed out all year.
Investing $1,000 in Coca-Cola (KO) stock 20 years ago (around early 2006) would have grown to roughly $6,000 to $8,000 by late 2025, assuming reinvested dividends, but it significantly underperformed the S&P 500 index, which would have turned $1,000 into about $20,000 over the same period, highlighting that while Coca-Cola offers stability, diversification and broader market index funds often yield better long-term returns.
Yes, gold is showing strong upward momentum, hitting record highs in late 2025 and early 2026 due to global economic uncertainty, central bank buying, inflation concerns, and the search for safe-haven assets, with many analysts forecasting continued strength into 2026, though with potential for volatility and corrections. Major banks like J.P. Morgan predict prices could reach $5,000-$5,400/oz by late 2026, while some extreme forecasts suggest much higher targets, driven by long-term trends like diversification away from the dollar.
For $10,000, you can typically buy around 2 to 2.2 ounces (oz) of gold, depending on the current market price (spot price), the type of product (bars vs. coins), and retailer premiums, with bars generally offering slightly more metal for the same money. Expect to pay a premium above the spot price for physical gold, with coins having higher premiums (3-8%) than larger bars (2-5%), reducing your total ounces slightly.