Jones Creek Gold Fossicking Area Ross

This is one of nineteen creeks set aside in the South Island where anyone can freely enjoy panning for gold (fossicking) without a mining permit. Fossicking is searching for and collecting materials from the land surface or by digging by hand.

To get to Jones Creek Gold Fossicking Area, go up Bond Street from the Ross Historic Area, and you will find Mount Greenland Road.

This particular creek has long been famous as the the 99 ounce (3kg) 'Honorable Roddy Nugget' was purportedly found here by a couple of miners named John Scott and Arthur Sharp in 1909. Immediately the find was named for Roderick McKenzie who was the mining Minister of the time and it took a tour of New Zealand. Later, there was more than a little speculation the nugget was of Australian Origin and purported to have been found here as a publicity stunt.

To add more mystery to myth, the nugget has disappeared. The last mention of it was that after being purchased by the New Zealand Government, it was given to King George as a coronation gift. Of that there is a record, in the Grey River Argus on 23 June, 1911.

After that, the Roddy Nugget disappeared, and all records along with it and even the stories that it was used as a door stop or melted down and formed into a tea set, may or may not be jokes. Still, the nugget has left it's name at the Ross tearooms (Roddy Nugget Cafe) and Jones Creek is still here so you can try your luck.

You can picnic, camp and swim here and it is the start of the Ross Water Race Walkway, an informative 1.5 hour walk. As always, please feel free to send your pictures to NZPlaces.

Image Credit: English Model of the (now lost) Roddy Nugget