The Boodjidup Brook Gold Rush

The 1896 Gold Rush

On Jan 215t 1888 a Bullock Driver while crossing the Boodjidup Brook (also known as Boogedup Brook or Stockyard Creek) saw what he believed to be gold shinning in the bottom of the brook. The area was very thickly forested with only very few wagon trails to follow. The timber industry was the main user of the trails with cattle and horse leases taking up large areas of forest.

Gold Find Near Margaret River - Southern Times 2 July 1896

Southern Times, Thu 2 July 1896, page 3

On the 26 June 1896 a prospector from the Kalgoorlie Gold Rush name Mr John Lord, who originated from Adelaide, followed up on the discovery and pegged the first claim for gold. A reward claim was granted and the first part of the gold rush started. Many claims were pegged for gold around the first lease. The highest assay for the reward claim was 66oz 2dwt 11gr per ton by newspaper reports.

There's gold in Margaret River

There's gold in Margaret River by Tom Wenman

The adjoining claim East of Reward claim reported rough gold and shafts where reef gold was reported. The position of this claim is where the old railway crosses the Boodjidup Brook.

There are three shafts and diggings still remaining on the western side of Bussell Hwy dug by James Ascione, where rough gold exists. There were many costeans reported by local farmers under the Bussell Hwy. near the shafts.

Part two of the Gold Rush was started 6 months later when Mines Deptartment recorded a Thomas Moriarty finding gold assayed at 32 oz per ton on the Boodjidup Brook located where the Caves Road and Boodjidup Roadd enters. Main claim, 100m south. Other claims are under the Leeuwin Winery Vineyard.

The 1933 Gold Rush

On September 25th 1933 Arthur Dee applied for a reward claim after his daughter Esella Dee Known as Stella found a gold nugget in a creek while playing. A gold reef was discovered and the rush was on. 19 leases were applied for.

The centre was 2km west of Wadandi Track, along Gnarrawary Road.

Later this area was named STOCKYARD CREEK by goldminers because of the resemblances to a goldfield in Gippsland Victoria.

From the Book There's gold in Margaret River by Tom Wenman.

Tom Wenman's book "There's Gold in Margaret River" is for sale at the Margaret River & Districts Historical Society.

See also: Tracker’s Lost Gold Reef in Margaret River by the same author.

Searching for Gold

Ensure all fossicking is done in compliance with WA state law. You must have a Miner's Right in Western Australia to prospect or fossick on Crown land, and you can't prospect or fossick on private land or active mining leases without permission. For more information, visit the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration website.