The first payable gold  discovered at Bendoc was credited to prospectors Hamilton Reed and partner John Loch in or around the 1850's.

Bendoc is known as the forgotten goldfield.  It is a remote region even today.

"Platypus Country Gold Fossicking" Bendoc's only gold fossicking tour operators has been taking tourists and interested persons out in search of gold and other minerals since the early 1990's.

Our guides are experienced prospectors with a wealth of knowledge of the Bendoc goldfields.

Old "Johnno" one of our senior guides has visited goldfields around the world and has found gold at  major gold rush sites in Scotland, USA and Canada.  His knowledge of where to find gold in Bendoc ranks highly with the few old prospectors left around Bendoc today.

Gold is found in New South Wales near Bendoc at places such as Craigie, Delegate, Quidong, and near to Bombala.  Our organisation does not restict its activities to the goldfield's around Bendoc Victoria and we often border hop to pursue gold in New South Wales.

Tours have been conducted at near and distant New South Wales goldfield's such as Pambula, Imlay, Mogo,Oallen, Numeralla, Braidwood, Ophir, Hill End, Sofala, Windeyer just to name a few.  Platypus Country Gold Fossicking is only to pleased to conduct tours to distant goldfields on request. 

Tourists and persons interested in getting gold are offered several forms of recovery methods by our organisation.  Metal detecting is not one of our favourite methods but we know enough to get by.  Bendoc is not conducive to metal detecting with most gold in and around the Victorian and New South Wales region we operate in the gold is by nature very fine in size.  Gold has been detected in the Bendoc area.

We prefer the sluice box method for gold recovery and have sluices with petrol and electric pumps to provide the water for operation. River sluices are available.  The river sluice uses the water current in streams for operation.

By far our favourite gold recovery method is "Snoopy" the gold tromell.  This machine was designed and built by Daniel Wilkshire, Old Johnno's Son.  Huge volumes of gold bearing wash can be processed by this machine daily.  Its only restriction is how much strength the operators  have as they shovel the dirt into the machine.

It is said to find gold one must first master gold panning.  Our guides will show you the correct way to pan for the elusive colour.

Our guides will teach you how to identify signs in streams where the gold might lay. 

Platypus Country Gold Fossicking has a small fleet of canoes for those interested in this activity.

Trout, Black Fish and eels inhabit rivers and creeks in our area and Platypus Gold Fossicking guides can assist you to catching a feed.  We can recommend a guided trip for the fisher persons with one of our associates who is one of the best fishing guides in the area if not the best.

Guided tours to old huts, mine sites, bush walks can be arranged with our guides.