Ophir Goldfields Reserve
Where minable gold was first found in Australia in 1851, sparking the Australian gold rush. You can still pan for gold in the creek today.
In February 1851, Edward Hargraves and his assistant discovered minable gold in Lewis Ponds Creek at Ophir. This set off Australia's first gold rush. Today it is a creek valley reserve with gold-mining heritage trails, old mine adit entrances, campgrounds and picnic areas. Visitors can pan for gold with gold pans in designated sections of the creek.
Admission is free. The reserve is about 25 km from Orange, and the final stretch is on a gravel road.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Orange Botanic Gardens
- Orange Regional Museum
- Cook Park
- Hill End Historic Site
- Orange Wine Region
- Lake Canobolas
- Millthorpe Village
- Mount Canobolas