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Panning for Gold at Old Mogo Town

Gold Panning ~ Water Wheel	The waterwheel The waterwheel at Old Mogo Town is a replica of several wheels in the area that were used as power sources. In the Shanty Pub there is a picture of one operating the pit-saw at the Captains Flat sawmill in the 1890s. Water Wheels were used for powering equipment like the ore crushing machine and were a natural environmentally friendly alternative power source to engines like Betsy the Steam Engine.
Family Fun and relaxation During the day as the peacefulness and atmosphere of Old Mogo Town washes over visitors, the water wheel can be heard, quietly slapping away and over the top of that sound is the sound of people panning for the elusive gold. The fossickers are generally successful and sometimes spend a large part of the day searching. Parents can sit and relax in the background peacefully mesmerised by the wheel and their children's pleasure as the tour guide enchants them!	Relaxing in a natural bush setting.
Rocker cradle	Finding Alluvial Gold Alluvial gold in the Mogo area was discovered in the old waterways and drainage systems and formed the basis upon which the goldrush was founded. The most common methods of separating the gold from the silt, clay and light shale was to use a sluice or a cradle. The alluvial ore was shovelled into the top and the clays, etc. dispersed with water. The last small separation was then achieved by panning.
Interesting methods When diggers collected gold that was too fine to pan, they would use a method called "tinning". This involved rubbing mercury into their pans; the mercury would then trap the gold. The digger would then place his pan in the fire to "melt" the resulting amalgam. He would then place it into a hollowed out potato, wire the halves together and throw it in the fire. The spud would be cooked until it was black on the outside. At this point the mercury was absorbed by the potato, leaving the pure gold inside.	Experienced Tour Guides.

It's an absorbing activity! The Students of Mogo Primary School try their luck hoping to strike it rich!
That is real gold there!	Panning for gold.	What does gold actually look like?.

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Discover Australian Gold Rush History at Mogo
between Batemans Bay and Moruya on the South Coast of NSW Australia.



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