Tasmania's Largest Gold Nuggets, James Mcginty and the Rocky River!!

Long before land exploration of Tasmania's west coast the early mariners while passing along the rugged coastline between Corinna and Sandy Cape noted how the erratic behaviour of there compasses suggested a large mineral field may have existed not to far inland.
In 19872 a young 22 year old Charles Sprent was appointed surveyor of the Wynyard and north west region of Tasmania. His timing was precise as James Philosopher Smith had just discovered the rich tin deposits of Mt Bischoff.
One of Sprents first assignments was to officially survey Smiths lease which then ultimately led to Sprents keen interest in the geology and mineral potential of Tasmania's west coast. In February 1877 Sprent and his four man team were exploring the thickly forested banks of the Savage River. He says,
"We began noticing pebbles of iron or, we traced the gullies up and soon came across an immense quantity, thousands of tons strewing the ground"
Soon after Sprent discovered gold in the Whyte river which led to the small gold rush that began in the Corinna area. The goldrush was short lived and only a few selected by chance ever uncovered the areas of rich potential. In this video I head back to these forgotten places and bring back to life the storys of old.
In February of 1883 James Mcginty while working alongside his two mining partners D Neil amd T Richards unearthed a whopping huge gold nugget of 243 ounces 7 kilograms. The party buried the nugget nearby and continued working for another week when they struck another nugget weighing 39 ounce or 1 kilogram.
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[@Tony-ok5pz]

Awesome video Levi. Best gold prospecting channel on KZbin. Great history lesson. Your videos always bring me up when I’m feeling down. Keep up the awesome work and cheers from California. Hope all is well with you and your family!

[@ScottishGoldHunter]

100% agree with you there Tony👍🏻 Amazing channel⛏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@christophermarwick3619]

Agreed!

[@officialtassieboysprospecting]

Thanks Tony appreciate all doing well over here cheers mate

[@Blooperzz]

@@officialtassieboysprospecting hey no gols for the queen i gues..

[@Staroy]

how could you feel down in california with eternal summer?

[@Exceler376]

Fascinating to retrace the steps and retell the stories of the early gold miners in Tasmania. Definite thumbs up! Great video!

[@officialtassieboysprospecting]

Cheers Alan

[@leonsuggate3478]

Thanks Levi Very interesting , and Wow what conditions those prospectors had to work ! - tough enough to walk and find let alone too work .

[@Goldwaschen-mit-Tom]

Hello Levi, there is hardly anything more exciting than watching you on such a "boring" walk. Once again one of the best videos I've seen. So much history and heart and soul in one man is contagious. Pretty environment. Maybe I'll come to New Zealand, then I'll rock the Rocky river (joke) that's really a mammoth task to move through the beautiful nature there. Thank you. Greetings Tom

[@swissgoldtreasure1521]

Pure Adventure!

[@aussiegoldfever]

Thanks for the tour and history of that area Levi. There's nothing like prospecting in an area where you know big gold has been found 👍🏾 Stay safe and happy hunting ⛏

[@brandonjackson1434]

That was a great hike and history visit,I always enjoy seeing your rivers and woods,and wow the old timers were tuff men

[@lucasfry9459]

I love the history, it's awesome 👌 thanks for sharing those old story's

[@philtatnell3685]

Great vid! Love hearing about our Tasmanian gold history.

[@ancellsadventures]

I enjoyed the history lesson Levi! Great stuff as usual!

[@andrewthomas7677]

That was a great video. I always enjoy knowing more about the history of prospecting. My back aches after just a day on the river, can't imagine living on the river and doing it every day. Let alone digging water races and river diverting tunnels! Thanks for your efforts mate, much appreciated.

[@officialtassieboysprospecting]

It’s crazy hey hard to comprehend the work thanks mate

[@richardbeee]

Like? What's not to love? That was so refreshing! All you hear over here is; How many buckets I've run, or about this pay dirt or that one. Gets boring after awhile. Now history? Oh yea! something you can sink your teeth into? That my friend i love, and always will. Thanks Levi, as always; great stuff.

[@Kenneth194]

Thank you Levi. A very interesting video as always. Both of us at a combined age of 171 years are beyond the type of trekking you do but are able to sit in our recliners and see new parts of our beautiful state and enjoy what you do. Thanks for sharing.

[@sanjitdeswal6796]

You do an excellent job explaining a variety of interesting topics of Tasmania... Great job Levi... you Rock!!!

[@stevenhart9004]

What a fabulous fragment of history. I would love to explore the old Tassie gold mines. It looks fascinating.

[@rossneich6544]

Just finished watching your last video re Rocky River. Fantastic balance between adventure and history. Photography up to the usual standard of excellence.

[@pzykael6916]

Lots of history there. Interesting seeing the differences and similarities in mining techniques around the world. I grew up in the gold mining town of Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada.

[@ryanhenro7649]

Next level Levi !! Been watching a fair while now but this one adds even more gold than what you have been pulling out for our entertainment over time...the history is absolutely captivating...thankyou, love it 👍👍

[@jordzhowlett4719]

Love a good history vid about the old timers!

[@hasmeadali7316]

Epic adventure Mate Thanks for sharing. please stay safe and God bless you and yours always

[@andrewh6645]

I love the history of Tassie. It’s such a beautiful place

[@susanmarkleyschmitt1314]

I really loved it Levi! I’ll take all the history of Australia. Love to know about your country and gold hunting, etc. Just be careful.

[@Tony-qx5mt]

Great stuff mate! Can’t believe people were out there back then, it’s remote now, so back then it would have been the end of earth. Crazy to think about the effort digging that tunnel too, Unfathomable!

[@bobfife9071]

It’s amazing trying to spot where the old timers had their base. It’s a beautiful setting Levi its like nothing else ive ever seen, not even in NZ, probably get my head chewed off for that.

[@geneoleary6809]

Always a like brother

[@sunnycoastexcavations]

I love the history videos, it’s amazing how the old timers used to do things. They really worked hard for minimal reward

[@suerobinson844]

It's a living museum, thanks for showing this excellent video. I love learning about our history, looking forward to seeing you next time. It's the Kings gold now. Stay safe and well form Queensland 👍💖

[@rickreimer1050]

Very interesting trip. Thanks for taking us along!

[@rodwhitehand2102]

Absolutely love the history trecks man. Keep up the good work

[@richardmayell1175]

Appreciate the time and efforts on your videos. Interesting look back at gold history. Just amazing how these old timers worked so hard to find the gold. I love watching gold videos but yours I look forward to the most. Keep on keeping on Levi 👍

[@officialtassieboysprospecting]

Thanks so much Richard

[@historicshearersquarters252]

Great change of video, love hearing Tassie's gold mining history and ypu are a great host. Would be great to see some more!

[@illeodavinci]

I love these walk in the past videos!!

[@sniff7276]

The real gold here is your videos mate, i'm a tasmanian as well and I never knew it was possible here

[@Skylark123]

This is a really interesting watch, thank you!! Gives me yellow fever 😂 and I’m surprised (yet shouldn’t be) how similar the Tasmania bush is to the bush in NZ, felt like I was back out at work possum monitoring.

[@orixxboy]

What's not to like!? Levi where else would an Irish man of modern times get that sort of history? And brought to see the locations and see the conditions? Wikipedia? Google! Not. So I for 1 love ❤️ 😍 seeing your adventures, your reason's and passion for doing them. It's important work you do for more than just posterity. If I was you I would make sure all your files and uploads are backed up twice! Cos there's videos on KZbin that I watched 5 years ago that I for the life of me cannot find now. Don't think that because it's on KZbin it's there forevermore. I'm sure they delete unveiled videos all the time. And you have a valuable body of work and source of information worth protecting. Love and luck from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@dylanjones4348]

great video as always mate,i find them very relaxing,and the picture quality is top notch🙂

[@MrDingaling007]

Im the same always keep going back to explore the area. I want to trek thru Paradise when time permits. What a place.

[@breakandrun70]

Great video Levi, very beautiful but also very rugged country. Thanks for taking the time & showing us the old trails & beautiful rivers. Be careful, be safe & have fun.

[@carolhodgson3141]

I’m blown away at the places you take us to Levi. I love the information and history too. Keep safe on your adventures, from this old lady in England x

[@gavindereus3643]

Great to see your enthusiasm for the exploration of au in Tasmania

[@Dad-farted]

I like your episodes, I look forward to watching them every week

[@robinyoung7007]

Many thanks Levi for the history in such a very beautiful area, your standards of production and filing are getting high and higher, thanks for sharing

[@terry8728]

Fascinating history, although that tunnel made me very uneasy. Glad you didn’t go too far in! 😱

[@ecclesmilligan8712]

Yep very dangerous, not only the risk of rock falls and collapses but there can also be deep pits in the floor that you can't see under the rubbish and water. Mate nearly stepped in such a hole when we where poking around an old adit across the Whyte from the Mt Cleveland mine at Luina. Was across from the tailings dam at the mine site (I worked there in the late 1970s). Nice video Levi with lots of info, well done.

[@bcbradley2359]

Very cool. Love seeing what the old boys did.

[@garyreid3199]

Thanks Levi, it's amazing what they did in the 30's. I think it's hard trekking around the golden triangle. Then I watch your videos and remind myself I have it easy! 😄

[@GSProspecting]

Great time out fam. Nice au indeed fam. Keep on having fun and living the dream fam. Gold Squad Out!!!

[@lubyard6057]

Awesome, can't help thinking of my ancestors who followed the minerals trail, Avoca, Mathinna, Lefroy, Zeehan, Savage and more. We know so little of their exploits other than my great grandfather came back from the West coast and purchased property at Latrobe, opened a business and went on to raise a family. A brother stayed on the West and yet another ended up at Bangor. Tough is the word. Thanks Levi, enjoy you bringing this to life.

[@BruceschultzAU]

Awesome mate Thanks for taking us along You need a z with the biggest coil you can fit between the bushes and some good digging tool's and grid mcgintys area over a week or two.

[@coraheywood9128]

Love these guided tours!

[@Psychedelicide]

Those water races remind me of the Levadas canals on Madeira Island. Your documentary & production skills are pure gold, Levi! Cheers!!

[@terry8728]

That was next level stuff Levi, awesome vid! 👍

[@ScottishGoldHunter]

Love you vids Levi😀 Always entertaining and learn so much⛏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@kevdimo6459]

Fantastic video thanks Levi, love the history of our country. You’re right very tough men to be out there doing all that hard work.

[@fouinus79]

Great video Levi, thanks for taking us along!

[@gregwarren7746]

Hey Levi, that was fantastic .... Awesome trace of the oldtimers work .... honestly, those guys were amazing for the work thre did with the tools they had, just unbelievable!! ....... I love following your videos ....you have a wonderful life!! ..... Best regards to you and your family

[@derekhughes9274]

Awesome trip man, they were really tough old dudes. My grandfather was a gold assayer in the 1930s and a keen prospector. Had many interesting stories from my mum,never met him. Mainly prospected around the Shoalhaven and Jenolan areas I believe.

[@officialtassieboysprospecting]

That’s cool there’s some great stories in all that mining of old

[@damienphillips9278]

Great vid mate, always good seeing parts of our history here!

[@MrMarkar1959]

👍🏼G'Day Levi,,awesome History. I Believe there are More Large Nuggets just waiting for You to find. Hope You're the One to Break their Record👍🏼Stay Safe.✌🏼

[@oconnorfamilyadventures]

Love the history videos. Really helps give us all a better idea of the areas your working.

[@hydropat2003]

This is an extremely interesting video! The tremendous amount of work you went through to show everyone the landscape and history of the old timers prospecting. Love it!

[@The_Opal_Leprechaun]

Great video. Can’t wait to see what you find😀

[@Rustybucket303]

Thanks for the history lesson Levi, keep the Dream Alive. Happy hunting.

[@michaelsmith7479]

Great vid Levi, loved learning about the history of the wild west gold. Thankyou.

[@dragonfly8807]

I have been watching your videos since the beginning and always find them interesting and leaves me dreaming of Tassie, but this doco was fantastic and well done. Maybe this is what you might be doing in the future when the creeks and rivers become to cold and your bones ach.

[@whatsforteadad]

Beautiful spot. I love the history of Tasmanian old timers you talk about in your videos. Keep em coming.

[@etarheel1]

I really enjoyed that history lesson. You are correct, the old timers were some tough guys!

[@toddrodgers5108]

Yes sir the old boy where tough. Great adventure. Love history

[@Zendukai]

Great video thanks Levi, man I reckon ya musta came homes with a few scratches. Digging those trenches in the old days omg, the roots of them trees would have been murder. Cheers for letting us come along.

[@debbiemingins4217]

Thankyou for another interesting video, even better was the fact you mentioned one of my ancestors, he was my grandmother's uncle, James Philosopher Smith, amazing really as I have only just heard of him in the last couple of weeks😁

[@jetstreek17]

Fun stuff, thanks for taking the time to share your stories and life. Love the content.

[@johnhowlett7711]

Great video Levi. These places you go look so remote.

[@patdenney7046]

One of the best videos I’ve seen on this subject! I am very impressed how your gold knowledge is growing. That’s a good spot very hard to get your detector on the ground! That took a lot of work! You’re in the learning phase so the more spots you have the better so you can work with Mother Nature. The old timers didn’t get all the big ones ! There’s a reason why gold miners are very secretive!

[@Tony_Brandt]

What a fantastic trip in your stunning country, truly some of the most beautiful I’ve seen. I also appreciate the time and effort you put into filming and editing! Great show and I am excited for the next trip! Thank you Levi.

[@leonidessantos-qv3px]

Great video Levi. Just can't stop watching and learning..

[@josephwilliamson6878]

Awesome watching you go out and trek where the old timers went. Love all your vids Levi and fam!

[@darrenmarney8577]

It's totally incredible Levi looking at how the early prospectors actually worked in the Tasmanian environment 👌 Great visualisation of the history 👍

[@laurafoster297]

Love love love the history... awesome video Levi 😁 thanks!

[@simon-peterhedditch3416]

Thanks for the guided tour, I have often wondered what the rivers looked like in that area.

[@whisperslmao798]

I loved the history of your video. I love the look of Tasmania's forrest. 😁

[@leonardlyman9586]

I absolutely love mining history, I am sure you put quite a bit of time into this. I am currently researching the mining activities of southwest Montana, and it's not easy to find the information. Keep up the hard work. You're an inspiration to many. Thanks, Leonard Lyman.

[@Uriel_222]

Love everything on you channel Levi . I really like when your sniping but you definitely still had my attention taking us back in history and explaining how the ol timers went after it back then . Very interesting. Thanks for the journey!

[@Boldo75]

Thanks for taking us along on an awesome adventure with a great history lesson. God Bless

[@nath5440]

it always amazes me how they got those water races to work and that they were dug by hand

[@johncarter17]

Awesome video Levi, thanks for taking us on the journey, don't know how you get through that bush mate, bloody fearless LOL

[@stephendolphin6200]

Great video Levi. I am moving to Queenstown from Sydney after Xmas and I have put this on my list to visit, we have been bushwalkers for years and love some of the places you get to, still thinking about trying sniping.

[@andrewbassett8210]

A really informative video mate, keep up the good work buddy👍👍👍

[@stevenhigby3512]

Really enjoyed the video so glad you are making them.

[@marko1025]

Really super interesting stuff mate just love your work . Thank you ✊🏻

[@RockAndOre]

Awesome video mate. You have an amazing work space over there, very different to central Vic. Thanks for sharing Levi😀

[@moe_1886]

Crazy to think of all that effort they put themselves through (after McGinty and Co.) for bugger all in return! Enjoyed that history tour Mate, amazing stuff! Cheers for that.

[@robertplatt1379]

I really liked it buddy cheers 🎉 keep the videos rolling 😊

[@35andsolid]

You know ,we talk about the oldtimers ,but I think they were all in the 20 to 40 years old , any body over 40 would have had a hard time to go through the bush like you do. Top video ,keep it up ,cheers

[@glendibben2381]

Amazing Trip Bro Levi. Thats pristine country. Rugged, ancient , and dangerous country sides. The Olde Fellows Had Guts , with a big G.. inventions .they used blow our minds. Thanks sooo much for sharing that tremendous Pictorial Training Video.

[@everdayprospectandcarryon]

Absolutely loved it mate, It’s a special part of the world down there.

[@sk8pkl]

Very nice video! I loved the bit of history. The way you narrate your videos is just perfect. The text and the pace is refined or just naturally very very good and enjoyable. The quality of your videos on all aspects is *gold*. Thanks for taking the time to make these vids! Have a good one! I wish you to stay safe and healthy!

[@officialtassieboysprospecting]

Thankyou appreciated

[@trevorwhat]

Brilliant video, as always.

[@shirleyhicks8838]

Always enjoy viewing his shows 😊

[@troygunter1600]

Another great video in the wilds of Tassy. Sitting in my spray rig is very cossy but I wish I was out checking on our history with you. Once its gone its gone. The old boys blow my mind how they did what they did! Lifes so precious, too precious to spend every day watching it pass by. All the SA mines are either fenced off or under new tenement. Keep living life amongst it brother and if you ever want a camera man sing out

[@Blumack21]

Great stuff Levi. Thank you. Andy

[@josephstoermer2441]

Great video great content as always Levi! 👍

[@davidlandells4443]

Love the content Levi. keep up the great vids mate. Cheers.

[@Suemack24]

Incredible the shots you manage and then to edit with great history voice over, and all on your own and without getting lost in the wilderness. 😮