Gold nugget discovered by Arthur Stewart
The Bealiba gold nugget was found near the town of Bealiba (70 kms west of Bendigo, Victoria) on 26 June 1957 by Arthur Stewart, the owner of a small nearby grazing property. Mr Stewart had stopped at the side of the road to repair the chain on his bicycle, which he was riding because his car had earlier broken down. His bad luck ended, however, when he noticed gold glinting from a clod of earth alongside the road. He dug the 22-ounce nugget out with his hands, then washed it in a nearby stream to confirm he had discovered gold. Gold nugget discovered by Arthur Stewart near Bealiba, Victoria, June 1957 The next day Mr Stewart formed a syndicate with mail contactor Gordon McDowell and a farmer and his son both named Tom Wright. They called their syndicate ‘Stewart’s Surprise’, took out miner’s rights and pegged a claim around the spot where the nugget was found. The discovery caused a minor gold rush with people arriving from surrounding areas eager to find m...