View of the diggings at Barossa.

Alluvial gold was discovered in the Barossa Valley region by Job Harris in 1868. This sparked a gold rush which rapidly attracted close to 4000 people.

The initial diggings were in the modern alluvium in Spike Gully at depths of 2 to 6 metres but, by early 1869, prospecting syndicates were formed and more than 20 individual rushes took place in neighbouring gullies and hillsides during 1869. These later rushes won gold from ancient river channels (leads) buried by up to 30 metres of sand and gravel. The most prominent of these later rushes were located on Goddards Hill and Victoria Hill where a second township, Victoria, was established 1869.

By late 1870, only 100 miners remained working old claims, many having moved to the newly discovered fields at Mount Pleasant and Birdwood. (Barossa Goldfield Trail)

Later in the nineteenth century a number of unsuccessful attempts were made to mine gold in the region. However the mineral rich country lent itself very well to vineyards. The Barossa Valley region is now best known for its wine, especially the world-famous Barossa Shiraz and Eden Valley Riesling varieties.

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Barossa Goldfield Trail.

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Mines and mineral resources State Library of South Australia