In February 1869, two British prospectors named John Deason and Richard Oates made a remarkable discovery in central Victoria, Australia. While digging for gold, they unearthed a giant block of gold weighing 72 kg, measuring 0.6 meters long and nearly 0.3 meters wide. This massive block of gold, aptly named “Welcome Stranger,” is the largest ever found.
After their discovery, Deason and Oates had to hide the gold to protect it from theft. They cleaned the gold block by burning off dirt and breaking the black quartz covering it. They then took the gold to a local ore crusher to extract the precious metal. Ultimately, they sold 66 kg of gold to a bank, earning a significant sum equivalent to the average worker’s salary for 43 years.
Despite the changes that have occurred in Victoria over the years, prospectors still flock to the area hoping to strike it rich. The region’s unique geology has made it a prime location for gold mining, characterized by gold-bearing quartz reefs that have been mined for over a century. Modern mining methods and technology have made it easier for companies to locate and extract gold from deep underground, ensuring a steady supply of the precious metal.
Victoria’s gold mines produce thousands of kilograms of gold annually, contributing significantly to the region’s economy. The legacy of the golden era lives on in Moliagul, where prospectors first discovered Welcome Stranger all those years ago. The area is now known as a quiet community known for its crop cultivation but still holds secrets waiting to be uncovered.
The story of Welcome Stranger serves as an inspiration for aspiring miners everywhere who dream of striking it rich in Victoria’s fertile soil. With modern mining techniques and advanced equipment at their disposal today’s miners are able to uncover more than just Welcome Stranger’s fame but also continue making Victoria’s economy grow stronger each year with every kilogram of Gold extracted from deep underground!
