After inheriting his father’s passion for prospecting when he was a child, Guy still hunts for gold and shares his finds with a global online audience. As our February Detectorist of the Month, Guy explains how prospecting was a family affair – and his biggest field discoveries so far.

Who or what inspired you to get into detecting?

I followed my father around the Golden Triangle in Central Victoria in the mid-80s while he prospected for gold with some of the very early metal detectors. Later on, he gave me a detector which started me off on coins and relics and I then progressed to gold. I also need to thank the team from The Darkside for all their support over the years.

I love all the history around the gold rush. I also have one of the original metal detecting YouTube channels ‘The Gold Rush Guy’. I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of videos go viral. One video has had more than five million views. 

I also love the bush having been brought up on a farm.

What was your first metal detector?

My first metal detector was a Minelab Musketeer which my father gave me. The first metal detector I bought was a Minelab CTX 3030. It’s an absolute beast of a machine and still one of my favourites.

When did you first use Coiltek coils and how was the experience?

My first Coiltek coil on a coil and relic machine was the 15″ for the Minelab CTX 3030 and the 14″ Elite on my Minelab GPX4500. Both coils have great depth and sensitivity. I have found some great finds and gold with them.

How has metal detecting benefitted your lifestyle?

I have a fairly demanding job in the city so to get out in the bush with a few mates is an awesome experience. The fact that I can find some gold to cover costs and research, and to find remnants of our early history, just tops it off. 

What advice would you give to someone wanting to start metal detecting?

Start small and spend the time learning your machine. Join one of the many prospecting clubs and gain experience through others. To be successful, you have to do the ‘Three Rs’: Research, Research, Research. 

What have been your most significant finds to date?

At an early gold rush site, which I researched, I found a sword scabbard where the old bank stood. More recently, I found a pure gold Irish miner’s ring which was likely made on the goldfields.

– Guy Edgar