About Gold & Relics

At the heart of our business is a passion for gold prospecting and a love for sharing that excitement with others.  Founded by Darren, along with wife Leanne and daughter Taleesha, this family-run business has grown out of years of hands-on experience, adventure, and a genuine love for the Australian outback.

Darren's journey into the world of gold prospecting began in the mid-70s when, at just 13 years old, he started panning with his grandfather in Daylesford. Hooked by the thrill of the hunt, Darren quickly expanded his skills, teaching himself metal detecting in the 1980s with a second-hand Garrett Deepseeker. Despite the steep learning curve, with six months of mistakes and persistence, Darren found his first nugget and gold fever was born.

In 1995, Darren embarked on his first gold prospecting trip to Western Australia, an experience that remains one of his most treasured memories. Over the years, Darren’s annual trips to WA became a tradition, and in one remarkable year, he found 46 ounces in just 15 weeks.  Leanne and Taleesha would join him, with Taleesha learning to crawl in the red dirt alongside the three-corner jacks.

As Darren's skills grew, so did his haul, with his biggest nugget weighing in at 24oz, alongside many others of notable size, including two 16oz, a 10oz, two 8oz finds and many more.  In total, Darren has found over 500 ounces of gold.

In the 1980s, Darren remembers selling gold for just $12.50 per gram - today, it's $140 per gram!  After years of refining his craft, Darren began buying and selling gold in 2000, expanding his knowledge and experience in the gold market.

In 2007, when Darren came home from his regular prospecting trips with handfuls of gold, his mates began asking him to share his expertise. They were eager to pay him for his knowledge. Darren didn't want others to struggle like he did in his early days.  It was then that the idea of the gold prospecting tours was born - an opportunity to train and guide others in the art of gold hunting. 

This is a family business through and through.  Leanne, with her background in business and HR, is the CEO (Chief of Everything), keeping the operations running smoothly behind the scenes.  Taleesha, with her design, technology, and social media expertise, handles the digital side of things, ensuring the business stays current and continues to grow its audience.  Together, the three of us are dedicated to providing an authentic and immersive gold prospecting experience for anyone eager to discover the thrill of finding gold.

Today, our family is not alone in this journey.  We now have a fantastic team around us, including our experienced and friendly tour guides, Peter and Dave.  Together, we ensure that each tour is filled with excitement, education, and the genuine camaraderie that comes with sharing this adventure.  Many of the people who have joined our tours have become lifelong friends, returning year after year to relive the magic of prospecting and the friendships they've made along the way.

Darren is always pushing himself to learn more, continuing to train and stay ahead of the game.  His passion for gold prospecting is as strong as ever, and he’s eager to share that passion with you, ensuring that your experience is as rich as the gold we seek.

Come on a real-life gold adventure with us, explore the rugged outback where the thrill of discovery awaits.