The Bash begins
A few hobby prospectors from a gold prospecting forum began meeting at the Laanecoorie Caravan Park. The early idea was simple: enjoy prospecting together, share knowledge, help newcomers and raise funds for charity.
Laanecoorie Gold Bash
The Laanecoorie Gold Bash brings together prospectors, families, volunteers, sponsors and supporters for a weekend built on community spirit, shared knowledge, fundraising and a love of the goldfields.
What the Bash is
A weekend that means more than the program alone.
The Bash is part prospecting gathering, part community reunion and part fundraising event. People come for the talks, market stalls, meals, raffles, entertainment and prizes, but they also come for the atmosphere that keeps bringing the community back together each year.
Across the weekend, the event also makes room for the legacy behind it, from the Jim Stewart Memorial Award through to the fundraising support that has flowed to Peter Mac and other causes over time.
The story behind the Bash
Built on the kind of spirit Jim Stewart was remembered for.
The Jim Stewart Memorial Award nomination notes describe Jim as someone who gave his time, effort and advice freely to people who asked, without wanting anything in return beyond a kind word, a warm smile and a bit of company around the campfire. That same spirit still sits at the heart of the Gold Bash.
The Bash began in 2011 with a small group of prospecting friends gathering at the Laanecoorie Caravan Park run by Jim and Robin Stewart. What started as a friendly annual get-together grew into a place where people could enjoy prospecting together, share knowledge, welcome newcomers and raise money for charity.
After Jim Stewart passed away from cancer in October 2013, the event continued and its fundraising focus shifted more directly toward cancer research in his honour. Over time, what began as a smaller annual gathering grew into a major fixture on the prospecting calendar, returning strongly after the COVID interruption for its 10th anniversary in 2022.
History
From a small gathering in 2011 to a major annual event.
The Gold Bash did not begin as a big expo. It started with a smaller group of prospecting friends getting together at the Laanecoorie Caravan Park to share their enjoyment of prospecting, pass on knowledge, welcome newcomers and raise a little money for charity. Over time, that gathering grew into one of Victoria's best-known annual prospecting events.
Jim Stewart's legacy becomes central
Jim Stewart, one of the event's founders and the former owner of the caravan park, passed away from cancer in October 2013. After his death, the annual gathering continued and its fundraising focus shifted toward cancer research in his honour.
The event finds its scale
By the middle of the decade, the Bash had grown well beyond its humble beginnings. Public reporting later described around 330 attendees in 2016, up from about 200 the year before, while the Saturday auction alone brought in about $11,000 toward a total of roughly $17,300 raised that year.
The COVID pause
Like many community events, the Gold Bash was put on hold during the COVID period. Even with that interruption, the event's place in the prospecting calendar held strong and people were ready for its return.
The Bash returns
After the COVID interruption, the Bash returned in 2022 for its 10th anniversary. Organisers expected around 600 people and described it as a much-loved event that helps bring visitors, community activity and fundraising support back into the region.
A tradition that keeps evolving
The Bash continues to grow as a weekend of talks, displays, hunts, raffles, auctions, prizes and family-friendly activities, while still holding onto the fundraising and community spirit that defined it from the beginning. What started small has become a lasting tradition in Laanecoorie.
Why people keep coming back
- A strong sense of community around camp, talks and shared meals
- Prospecting knowledge, activities and stories passed around through the weekend
- Fundraising that has made a real contribution over many years
- A tradition that honours the people and values behind the Bash
What the weekend includes
- Guest talks, demonstrations and prospecting activities
- Token hunts, raffles, auctions and community fundraising
- Market stalls, food, entertainment and time around camp
- The Jim Stewart Memorial Award and broader Gold Bash community tradition
More from the Bash
Follow the parts of the weekend that matter most to you.
The Gold Bash page is the starting point. From here you can register, follow the award, see the fundraising history and browse the yearly programs in more detail.
Let us know you are coming
Registering gives the committee a better idea of likely numbers and helps with planning across the weekend.
Register nowJim Stewart Award
See what the award stands for, view the current and past winners section, or submit a nomination.
Open Award pageFundraising
See how much the Bash has raised over the years and how that support has helped Peter Mac and other causes.
Open FundraisingPrograms
Browse the current program, open the PDF and keep an eye on future years as they are added.
Open Programs