The Largest Gold Nugget Ever Found on Earth

#goldnugget #goldprospecting #goldmining #victoria #australia
In the heart of Victoria, Australia, lies a small town with a golden secret. It was here, in the rugged terrain of Moliagul, that two Cornish miners, John Deason and Richard Oates, unearthed the largest gold nugget ever discovered—the legendary "Welcome Stranger." On a seemingly ordinary day in February 1869, the two miners made an extraordinary find. Buried just beneath the surface, near the roots of a tree, was a massive gold nugget weighing a staggering 72 kilograms (158.7 pounds).

This video takes you on a journey back to the gold rush era, where the dreams of fortune seekers brought them to the Victorian goldfields. You'll witness the sheer size and magnificence of the Welcome Stranger nugget, a treasure so large that it took two men to carry it. We'll explore the rich geological history of the Moliagul region, known for its alluvial gold deposits, and the unique geological conditions that made it a hotspot for gold discoveries.

Discover the story behind the discovery—the secrecy with which Deason and Oates transported the nugget to avoid claim-jumping, the intense negotiations with the local bank in Dunolly, and the eventual sale that made them rich beyond their wildest dreams. We'll delve into the rumor and intrigue surrounding the nugget's discovery, the quick decision to melt it down, and the single sketch that remains our only visual record of its original form.

Join us as we uncover the legacy of the Welcome Stranger, a symbol of the Australian gold rush and a testament to the relentless human spirit in the pursuit of wealth and adventure. From the moment of its discovery to its eventual melting, this nugget’s story is one of fortune, history, and the unending allure of gold.

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[revolutionaryhamburger]

Warning. Watching this video could give viewers gold fever.

[jesseallan]

That is 71kg and some change for those of us who use the metric system.

[dave-hprf]

I am to old now and a disabled war veteran but I always wanted to go after gold, to anyone in the business there is still plenty of gold in Australia, to those in America some have come and found gold well keep coming.

[anothergoldprospector]

Awesome bit of Victoria's Gold history thanks for your take on the most famous nugget found to date.

[chairmanrexton]

I used to be a mine guide at Sovereign Hill many moons ago, and liked to tell a less detailed version of this story. I had no idea there were some doubts about the finders’ legitimate claim to the nugget though. Fascinating!

[webmaster]

Holtermann Nugget, the largest gold specimen ever found, 59 inches (1.5 m) long, weighing 630 pounds (290 kg) and with an estimated gold content of 3, 000 troy ounces (93 kg), found at Hill End, near Bathurst,

[Aabergm]

51 Seconds new PB. Love your vids BTW. Always facinating.

[Radio_FM_]

It may contain the "fingerprint" of the instant of supernova explosion
which is more valuable than the gold itself.

[Albonyd]

Canadian Gully, Ballarat holds the record of most unearthed nuggets over 1000 ounces.

[ericvanvlandren]

The “on Earth” qualifier is odd. Has anyone ever found a gold nugget anywhere off Earth?

[rossphilpot]

I played junior cricket for Moliagul C.C. in the early 90s. We were coached by Dick Deason. I guess he was a descendant of John Deason. I wish I'd known at the time so I could ask him about it.

[Max_Flashheart]

Great video. The lesson is move it fast and sell it quick.

[logic.and.reasoning]

We need a 5 degree spead, 50m deep metal detection coil... Dreams are free😊

[markissboi]

I was told by dunolly locals it was found in doomsday hill where we where married at the Dunolly festival 1980s
A school girl stubbed her foot on a rock & took it home to show her parents a few days L8tr her father seen the sun shine thru the window on kitchen table and seen it was Gold $2.5k worth the legend of Lasseter's Gold Reef story still fasinates me 1 mile long should be a movie about it see a few Documentrys

[goss]

Long ago, people used to think gold nuggets were the poop of some magical animal. In the story of the goose that laid golden eggs, it was golden poop originally.
And the thing about catching a leprechaun and holding on to him until he provides a pot of about it.

[thedarkmoon]

The gold is created in a split second as a result of a electrical discharge of a magnitude few could ever comprehend, I worked around the Gold Reef in South Africa in the mid 70s and even to an amateur geologist the native legends told a much more likely explanation for the creation of gold and other resources and the diamonds too than the academic geologists offered. Everything is millions and billions of years but in an Electric Universe can happen in seconds, minutes and hours. Once you see it you can't unsee it.

[bigjm]

Prettiest gold comes from Australia 😊 wish our gold was that pretty on America

[OlakalO]

Another world record held by our humble yet mighty country

[Flyingdutchy]

At the bottom of the sketch it says:

"THE WELCOME STRANGER" from a photograph by Webber, Jun.

[rosa]

When I was very young and 7 decades ago, I read a book about Lassiter’s lost reef. Can’t remember where this was.