The Australian gold rush that never ended

Fossicking for the next 'flash in the pan' as the pandemic pushes up prices

Nikkei gold 2. Panning for gold in a fast-running stream at Nundle, Australia. Photo Geoff Hiscock.JPG

Panning for gold in a fast-running stream in Nundle, Australia. (Geoff Hiscock)

GEOFF HISCOCK, Contributing writer

September 2, 2020 08:00 JST

NUNDLE, Australia -- Mount Misery is not a name to inspire confidence in a budding treasure hunter. But 160 years ago, European and Chinese prospectors dragged thousands of grams of alluvial gold from the area, and with the international gold price soaring above $2,000 a troy ounce (31.1 grams) in recent weeks, who's to say that I can't make my fortune here too?