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Author Topic: Tolmie / toombullup  (Read 1020 times)

Jpollard

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Tolmie / toombullup
« on: January 07, 2025, 01:18:47 AM »
As the saying goes, long time reader first time poster.
I'm looking at heading up to the tolmie toombullup area for a scratch on some of the creeks up that way.  Reading the gemstones of vic book and a few forum posts it looks like middle creek,  wombat creek, Ryan Creek and stringybark Creek all could be worth a look.  Does any one have any tips on that area?  Looking on the exempt streams list none of the above are listed, however I've been told fossicking may be a no go anyway? So would appreciate anyone with insight. 
Cheers.
Jake

Ranger Itchy

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Re: Tolmie / toombullup
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2025, 08:30:39 AM »
Hi Jpollard,
Last time I was up that way maybe 5 years ago, I found most of the streams hard to access because of undergrowth, fallen trees and blackberries. Some where so overgrown you couldn't actually see the stream you could only hear it flowing. Maybe take a machete for the blackberries!


Cheers Ranger Itchy
A great man once said "NEVER APOLIGIZE IT'S A SIGN OF WEAKNESS"
I don't mind being weak occasionally!!!!

Manficat

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Re: Tolmie / toombullup
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2025, 10:11:01 AM »
Was thinking about going to the exact same creeks. Can't help you much, haven't been there yet, but I'm eager to see what you find!

Bucket

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Re: Tolmie / toombullup
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2025, 08:47:15 PM »
Jpollard welcome to the forum. When I was (quite) a bit younger, my old club went up to that area a number of times, I found some zircons with good colour in a few of the creeks, one of which was Stringybark. I was through that area around 8 years ago and it's changed dramatically, to the point I wouldn't have recognised it. I did have a bit of scratch around on that trip but didn't find anything. I think it's been well worked over.  Check on what areas are now State Forest and what you can and can't do in those areas. Make sure you have a Miners Right. Some of the more remote creeks in that general area might be worth a look, I seem to remember that the gravel I was getting the zircons in was mainly in the bed of the creeks, so digging was easier.  Don't forget to visit the Kelly Tree, it's a bit of our history even if it's no longer legible to read. I have an old black and white photo of it when I was there 50+ years ago and it was still easy to read 'Kelly Shot Lonigan".
Common sense isn't exactly common

Lapis Lupinus

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Re: Tolmie / toombullup
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2025, 11:07:27 AM »
Hi, I visited Middle Creek a year ago with the Warragul club and we found plenty of small zircons and the occasional sapphire. Access is via the Madhouse rd, along which you travel for around 10 minutes and then right down a 4wd track for a few hundred metres. The track is easy to miss. The creek has plenty of blackberry bushes too.

Jpollard

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Re: Tolmie / toombullup
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2025, 09:13:27 PM »
Thanks all. 
I posted on a Facebook forum and got told most of the area is a no go zone.  So, I emailed Decca asking about middle creek,  Ryan creek and a few others in the toombullup state forest (none of these are on the exempt streams list). I got a message back saying 'basically, the exempt streams are not allowed to be prospected' so I should be good to go.  :)
Lapis Lupinus thanks for the directions. Any size to anything you found?
Bucket, I grew up in Mansfield (now up in albury) so have been to the Kelly tree a few times. Did I primary school project on it 20 years ago and you could barley read it then.  Miners rights purchased, I've done a bit around reedy creek, Anne a trip out two to to paddys river.  Few little sapphires and zircons up at paddy River. 
Cheers itchy, hopefully if I can't find anything at least I can get a feed of their ripe.
Manficat of I make it up there I'll try to post my results here. 

Lapis Lupinus

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Re: Tolmie / toombullup
« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2025, 05:03:38 PM »
Hi Jpollard, the largest zircon was about 1.5 carats. Most are quite small. The sapphires are small, match head size

Jpollard

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Re: Tolmie / toombullup
« Reply #7 on: January 10, 2025, 08:54:12 PM »
Hi Jpollard, the largest zircon was about 1.5 carats. Most are quite small. The sapphires are small, match head size
Similar to what I've found up at tumbarumba. A different location will be god to sus out 

swirly

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Re: Tolmie / toombullup
« Reply #8 on: January 16, 2025, 03:09:28 PM »
i have a lot of small sapphires and zircons from middle creek also some tourmaline and black spinel some are faceted no bigger than a quarter of a carat still there nice stones.creek is very overgrown now and hard to access.

 

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