CQ Diggings

04/11/2026

Ever dug something up and thought, what the hell is that?

Forget gold for a minute.

Queensland's bush has been hiding things for a very long time. Old tools, coins, machinery, bottles, relics and bits of history that don't always make sense when you first find them.

Some finds turn out to be surprisingly interesting. Others remain a complete mystery.

We'd love to see the strangest thing you've ever found while detecting, fossicking or exploring.

Got a photo? Throw it in the comments.

Even better if you've still got no idea what it is.

Let's see what Queensland's been hiding.

29/10/2026

What if we could use 150 years of gold discoveries, old mining records and geology to help work out where gold might still be hiding in Queensland?

And what if your own gold finds could help make that information more accurate for everyone?

That's exactly what we're working on at CQ Diggings, and we need your help.

We're building something new for us, a Gold Likelihood Model that brings together historical mining records, documented discoveries, geology, old workings, watercourses and real-world finds to identify areas where gold is more likely to occur.

It's not a treasure map. It won't tell you which rock to turn over or which bend in a creek to dig. If it could, we'd probably be keeping fairly quiet about it.

Instead, it's about using actual evidence to give prospectors a better idea of which areas might be worth investigating.

And here's where you come in.

There's a huge amount of knowledge out there that has never made it into official records.

Maybe you've found a few specks in a creek, picked up nuggets detecting, recovered fine gold from an old wash, or know an old story about gold being found somewhere unexpected.

We'd love to hear about it.

We're interested in where gold was found, what sort of gold it was, roughly how much was recovered and how it was found. Stories and photos are welcome too.

And no, we're not asking you to give away your secret spots.

A general area is absolutely fine. You don't need to tell us the exact creek bend, gully or patch of ground. The more detail you're comfortable providing, the more useful it becomes.

Your privacy matters. We won't identify who provided the information or share your personal details or exact find locations without your permission. Information used in public mapping will be generalised to protect contributors.

By comparing actual finds with historical records and geology, we can test our predictions, identify gaps and gradually improve the model.

What does this mean for free CQ Diggings members?

Our aim is to make broad gold-likelihood mapping available to free members, helping everyday prospectors identify areas worth researching further.

It won't guarantee gold, and it won't mean every highlighted area is legally accessible. But it could give you a much better starting point than simply picking a creek and hoping for the best.

This is still a work in progress, and the more genuine information we can gather, the better we can make it.

So here's our question.

Have you ever found gold somewhere in Queensland, even just a few specks? Or do you know an old story about gold being found in an area that's largely forgotten today?

Tell us about it in the comments or send us a private message if you'd prefer to keep it confidential.

You might know something that helps us uncover a piece of Queensland's gold history that the official records missed.

27/10/2026

Weather’s gone to s**t and your detecting plans are washed out?

Can’t swing the detector, can’t get out fossicking, and there’s only so many times you can reorganise your gear before the family starts asking questions.

Might as well put the kettle on and have a read!

CQ Diggings Legends & Tall tales is all about the old goldfields, forgotten diggings, local legends and stories from Queensland’s prospecting past.

There’s plenty of history out there, and some of the old miners’ tales make you wonder how much gold they actually found and how much rum they’d had.

So while the weather’s keeping you indoors, pull up a chair and explore a few stories.

And if you’ve got an old prospecting yarn of your own, we’d love to hear it. The truth is preferred, but we know how prospectors operate. 😁

What’s the best local gold or fossicking story you’ve ever heard?

24/10/2026

24/10/2026

Ever wondered where the old crowds gathered?

CQ Diggings now maps 480 old coin and relic spots right across Queensland: picnic grounds, beaches, showgrounds, racecourses, dance halls, old pubs and Cobb & Co changes.

There are also more than 2,300 historic places, from vanished towns and old rail stops to telegraph stations and goldfield pubs, plus 89 shipwrecks with their real stories and a page of the old treasure legends. Every spot has its yarn, the sources it comes from, and a link to the local council's detecting rules.

Next up are old mining camps, crushing batteries, sawmills and other old industry sites. The data grows every week.

Search CQ Diggings to have a look, or find the coin spots under Relics on the website

22/10/2026

Thinking About Buying a Metal Detector? Don't Spend Thousands on the Wrong One!

Gold nuggets, coins, jewellery, relics or a bit of everything?

What you want to find, and where you plan to look, should determine the detector you buy.

A great beach detector might struggle on mineralised goldfields, while an expensive dedicated gold detector could be overkill for coins and jewellery.

VLF, multi-frequency or pulse induction (PI)? Each has its strengths, and spending more doesn't always mean finding more.

But the right detector is only half the story. Knowing where to look matters just as much!

That's where CQ Diggings comes in. We're bringing together Queensland's historical gold discoveries, old mines, geology and local research to help you understand the ground before heading out.

Now, let's hear from you!

What detector do you use, what do you hunt for, and would you buy the same machine again?

New to detecting? Tell us what you want to find and your budget. Someone in the community might save you an expensive mistake!

Research the ground before you start swinging.

15/10/2026

CQ Diggings is FREE. Have you created your account yet?

Whether you're chasing gold, hunting gemstones, swinging a detector or researching forgotten places, CQ Diggings is here to help you find your next adventure.

Creating a free account lets you:

Save your favourite locations and research for later.

Return to your saved work whenever you like.

Explore Queensland's gold, gem, relic and treasure locations.

Research old mines, historical discoveries, maps and forgotten workings.

Make use of our growing collection of research tools and information.

We're constantly expanding our coverage across Queensland, adding more locations, historical records and features along the way.

No subscription needed. No payment required. Just sign up and start exploring.

Create your FREE account today

12/10/2026

Off to renew my Queensland fossicking licence this week.

It's cheap, quick to do online, and it's what lets you legally poke around the old diggings in designated areas.

If yours has lapsed or you've never had one, I put together a plain-English page on why you need one, the different types, and how to apply:

11/10/2026

Ever wonder where the old-timers actually dug around your way?

Thousands of old Queensland diggings, reefs and shafts, pulled out of dusty government reports and put on one map. Some are in spots you'd never guess.

Link's in the pic. Have a squiz at what's near you.