GOLD fever hits Nundle again this Easter, and the nuggets are ready and waiting to be found.
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Nundle Community Development committee member Geoff Cummins is ready to hide the gold for those who want to try their hand at panning during the Go for Gold Chinese Festival.
Mr Cummins said he has about 15 grams of gold ready to be hidden in pans of sand and gravel for visitors to find.
It’s one of the most popular attractions at the annual festival.
Based at the Mt Misery Gold Mine, visitors are given a pan of gravel and sand, and pan in a tub to try their luck.
Mr Cummins said everyone was guaranteed of some gold and last year about 500 people walked away with specks or a nugget.
“It becomes a very busy place for the two days,” he said.
“It is magic when out of the sand and gravel in the pan, some gold emerges.
“The look on their faces is the highlight for me.
“Gold in the pan is unmistakable and it looks quite startling.
“It’s such a thrill for them, you can understand why people got gold fever – if a person hasn’t panned before, it’s an experience they will never forget.”
Mr Cummins said there was more than $1000 worth of gold to be found and each afternoon there is the chance to get a nugget.
“Nine out of ten people who find a nugget are children,” he said.
“We give them a little ‘licence’ with their name on it, designed to look like the old gold licences.”
For the history buffs, there is a booklet on the history and discovery of gold in and around Nundle.
“It’s all about helping people understand the history of an old gold town,” he said.
The Go For Gold Chinese Festival is on the Easter weekend, April 19 and 20.