Land Access for North Queensland
In Queensland almost all land will need some sort of permission from the landowner to be able to go detecting or fossicking. You will need to organise this for yourself if you are expecting to be able to fossick in whatever area you choose. Having said that, there are some “General Permission Areas” available, which for the most part, are accessible with your required fossicking licence. For the Charters Towers area, a small parcel of land called “Young’s Block” is available to those holding a fossicking licence. Information on fossicking is available on the Department of Natural Resources and Mines website.
https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/areas-facilities/fossicking
There are also some “Pay to detect” properties in our area and the list of ones that I am aware of follows. These properties are working cattle stations that have set aside paddocks for the prospector and most allow camping on them in their designated camping grounds, but not all.
Georgetown/Forsayth area
Western Creek Station;
Operated by Shirley Young & Geoff Brown, Western Creek is a working cattle property, which is located approximately 20 km South of Georgetown on the Forsayth Road. Camping is available on an area which is large in size & has toilets/hot showers for visitors. There is a wood BBQ and a camp kitchen. Sites are unpowered so take along your generator. Phone contact - (07) 4062 5591
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Interest/Western-Creek-Gold-1762404590658630/
Flat Creek Station;
Approximately13km south west of Western Creek further along the same road, is another working cattle property run by Peter Henry. Flat Creek has toilets/hot showers for visitors in the designated camping area. Phone contact - (07) 4062 5304
https://www.facebook.com/Flat-Creek-Station-Georgetown-Camping-Fossicking-and-Homestay-229990788140/
Dell’s Hole Station;
This property located south west of Forsayth along the Cobalt Gorge Road. Being run by Kevin Young, this is another operating cattle property. He has told me they won’t be opening for the 2022 season.
Long Gully Station;
This property is also located south west of Forsayth along the Cobalt Gorge Road and is run by Kevin Young’s brother, Noel Young. There are no toilet/shower facilities, or drinking water available at Long Gully although there is water available for washing or showers.
Unsure as to whether they are opening for 2022.
Phone contact - (07) 4062 5534
https://www.facebook.com/Dells-Hole-Long-Gully-Gold-123058467773435
Gilberton Station;
This is another working cattle property being run by Rob & Lyn French. It is located approximately 60km South of Forsayth and is accessed via Gilberton Road (the road past Kidston Mine turning off the Gregory Highway between the Oasis Roadhouse and Eiansleigh) or Bagstowe Road coming off the Kennedy Developmental Road between Hughenden and the Oasis Roadhouse. They also own Mt Hogan, a nearby property, that they open up occasionally, and both of these have certain areas set aside for prospecting. As there are no toilet/shower facilities at either property you will need to take in all of your water requirements.
From 2016, Camilla & Ashley French have taken over the camping & detecting side of things for both Mt Hogan & Gilberton. Phone contact - (07) 4062 5458 .
I’m not sure if this information is up to date, but a phone call or a look on their website should get it right.
https://www.gilbertongold.com/
Palmerville Station;
This is the property that a prospector recently disappeared on and the former owners were convicted for his disappearance. It has been purchased by a Company and is being developed for prospecting. There are several detecting packages available for this area and their website will give you the relevant information.