About Palmer Goldfield

Park features

Discover the colourful history of the gold rush days protected in Palmer Goldfield Resources Reserve.

Today, only traces remain of buildings and the extensive alluvial mining that produced so much gold in the early days. The real historical treasure here is the bulky 19^th Century mining machinery from many costly and wretched attempts at reef mining. Visitors can walk, with care, around the old reef mining sites and see relatively intact boilers, steam engines, stamp mills and pumps.

Following the discovery of payable alluvial gold on the Palmer River in 1873, would-be diggers flocked to the field in search of their fortunes. Within two years, an estimated 9000 people had arrived on the Palmer, a mecca for European and Chinese miners.

• Read more about the culture and history of Palmer Goldfield Resources Reserve.

Looking after the park

• Stay on tracks that are signposted or marked on the map. Avoid travelling on unsealed roads during wet weather as roads can be severely damaged.
• Leave all historical material where it is. Help keep Queensland's heritage intact.
• Prospecting, panning and metal detectors are not permitted and fines apply.
• Leave domestic animals at home. Pets disturb native wildlife and other campers.
• Plants and animals (dead or alive) are protected.
• Rubbish bins are not provided. Do not bury rubbish—take it with you when you leave.
• Camp and walk softly. Leave your camp site better than you found it.
• Bury human waste and toilet paper at least 15cm deep and 100m from water bodies and campsites to guard against pollution and the spread of disease.

See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

Park management

The area was proclaimed a reserve in 1986 to protect the historical remains. Today the Palmer Goldfield Resources Reserve is managed to preserve and present the rich mining and cultural heritage of the area. Joint management by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation and the Department of Resources, ensures that both mining interests and historical sites are considered. There are many active mining leases operating in the area. The general public are not permitted to use prospecting, panning or metal detector equipment in the Palmer Goldfield Resources Reserve. Fines apply.

Tourism information links

For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see Queensland holidays.