An amateur prospector made an incredible find estimated at $240,000 while detecting in Victoria’s renowned Golden Triangle — the region spanning Ballarat, Bendigo, and St Arnaud.

Equipped with a modest, budget-friendly metal detector, the man unearthed a 4.6kg rock and later brought it into Lucky Strike Gold in Geelong to see if it held any real value.

Darren Kamp, Director of Lucky Strike Gold and Gold & Relics, said it was the largest gold specimen he’d seen in over 43 years of prospecting.

“When the prospector pulled it from his backpack and dropped it into my hand, he asked if I thought it might be worth $10,000,” Darren recalled. “The moment I felt the weight, I said, ‘Try $100,000.’”

To his surprise, the man then revealed that this was only half the rock — the other half was still at home.

“It’s one of those truly life-changing pieces,” Darren said. “When it landed in my hand, my jaw dropped with it.”

The 4.6kg rock — later nicknamed ‘Lucky Strike’ — held an incredible 2.6kg of solid gold inside.

While even small gold nuggets can fetch up to $1000, this find stood out not just for its value, but for the fact it was discovered with a budget-level metal detector above ground — not by a mining company deep underground.

“I’ve been in the gold industry for 43 years, and this is the biggest gold specimen I’ve seen found with a detector,” said Darren Kamp.

With gold prices climbing and the cost of living rising, more people — especially in their 20s and 30s — are turning to prospecting as a rewarding escape and a potential side hustle.

Even small gold nuggets can sell for up to $1000, making prospecting an increasingly appealing hobby — especially for younger generations.

Darren Kamp, Director of Lucky Strike Gold and Gold & Relics, has seen a noticeable shift in who’s taking up the detector.

“A few years ago, the average prospector was over 50,” he said. “Now, we’re seeing more people in their 20s and 30s getting into it.”

While many are drawn by the potential for extra income, others are simply looking for a way to switch off and reconnect with nature.

“Most weekend prospectors head out just to enjoy the bush — finding gold is a bonus,” Darren said. “It’s what people did during the Depression. They grabbed a pan, headed out, and made a few extra dollars.”

Map of Victoria showing major gold mining regions. Picture: Victoria state government

Victoria’s famed Golden Triangle spans the region between Ballarat, Bendigo, and St Arnaud, and includes historic gold towns like Daylesford, Maryborough, and Castlemaine.

During the gold rush of the 1850s, these towns flourished — many of their grand old buildings still stand today, now home to museums, galleries, and cafés.

The area became world-famous for producing exceptionally large and pure alluvial gold nuggets, often found in creek beds and shallow ground.

While the recent 4.6kg find is remarkable, it’s still dwarfed by the legendary ‘Welcome Stranger’ — a colossal 72kg nugget discovered near Moliagul in 1869. At today’s prices, it would be worth around $6.8 million.