<P> On reaching the diggings I found a population numbering about five hundred, the majority of whom were doing little or nothing in the way of digging for the precious metal . Claims, however, were marked out in all directions, and the ground leading from the gullies where the richest finds have been got was taken up for a considerable distance . I have very little hesitation in stating that two - thirds of the people congregated there had never been on a diggings before, and seemed to be quite at a loss what to do . Very few of them had tents to live in or tools to work with; and I am afraid that the majority of those had not sufficient money to keep them in food for one week...From all that I could glean from miners and others, with whom I had an opportunity of speaking, respecting the diggings, I think it very probable that a permanent gold - field will be established at, or in the vicinity of, Gympie Creek; and if reports - which were in circulation when I left the diggings - to the effect that several prospecting parties had found gold at different points, varying from one to five miles from the township, be correct, there is little doubt but it will be an extensive gold - field, and will absorb a large population within a very short period . </P> <P> The very rich and productive area, which covered only an area of 120 square miles (300 km), was officially declared the Gympie Goldfield in 1868 . In 1868 the mining shanty town which had quickly grown with tents, many small stores and liquor outlets, and was known as "Nashville", was also renamed Gympie after the Gympie Creek named from the aboriginal name for a local stinging tree . Within months there were 25,000 people on the goldfield . This was the first large goldrush after Canoona in 1858, and Gympie became' The Town That Saved Queensland' from bankruptcy . </P> <P> The Kilkivan Goldfield (N.W of Gympie) was also discovered in 1867 with the rush to that area beginning in that same year, and, as was commonly the case, before the goldfield was officially declared in July 1868 . </P> <P> Townsville was opened up in 1868, the Gilbert River goldfield (110 km from Georgetown) in 1869, and Etheridge (Georgetown) in 1870 . </P>

Where was the first bit of gold found