Fossicking and gold prospecting

State and territory permit requirements, permitted equipment and take limits.

Compliance notice: Fossicking without the correct permit, on private land without consent, or in protected areas may result in fines or prosecution.

Permit requirements by jurisdiction

State and territory fossicking permit requirements
State / territory	Permit	Legislation	Official portal
Victoria	Miner's Right (~$28.60, 10 years)	Mineral Resources (SD) Act 1990	resources.vic.gov.au
NSW	No general licence; State forest permit required	Mining Act 1992	resources.nsw.gov.au
Queensland	Fossicking Licence (mandatory)	Mineral Resources Act 1989	qld.gov.au
Western Australia	Miner's Right (mandatory)	Mining Act 1978	wa.gov.au
South Australia	No permit; landowner permission required	Mining Act 1971	energymining.sa.gov.au
Tasmania	Prospecting licence outside declared areas	Mineral Resources Dev. Act 1995	mrt.tas.gov.au
Northern Territory	Miner's Right or authority under Mineral Titles Act	Mineral Titles Act 2010	nt.gov.au

General requirements

Hand tools only — pans, shovels, picks, metal detectors (no mechanised equipment or explosives)
Written landowner consent required on private property
Aboriginal heritage protected areas and national parks excluded unless specifically designated
Carry permit or licence in the field — regulatory inspectors conduct spot checks
Obtain consent from mining lease holders before entering active tenement areas

NSW daily take limits (Mining Regulation 2016)

Material	Daily limit
Mineral-bearing material	10 kg
Gold nuggets (10 g or greater)	5 nuggets
Gold (other forms)	50 grams

Penalty for fossicking in NSW State forests without permit: up to $2,200.

Gold nuggets from recreational prospecting — **Gold nuggets**Recreational finds remain subject to Crown mineral ownership law and state permit requirements.