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Welcome Stranger Anvil Print Page 
The Welcome Stranger monument was erected by John A. Flett and consists of a miners` pick and shovel commemorating the anvil on which the gold nugget was cut on 9 April 1869.
The 'Welcome Stranger' was found on 5 February 1869 by Cornish miner John Deason, who was working in Bulldog Gully, near Moliagul in central Victoria. While searching around the roots of a tree he discovered, 3 cm below the surface, a gold nugget. He concealed his find until dark, then with his partner, Richard Oates, dug it out. They then held a party during which they revealed their find to the guests.
The 66 kilogram 'Welcome Stranger', then the world's largest-known gold nugget, was taken to Dunolly where it had to be broken on an anvil before it could fit on the bank's scales. It was worth 10,000 pounds - around $3-4 million in today's money. Deason returned to Moliagul and his descendants are still in the area. Oates returned to Cornwall.
Location
| Address: | 75 The Broadway , Dunolly Museum , Dunolly, 3472 |
|---|---|
| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -36.860233 Long: 143.732258 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Technology |
| Sub-Theme: | Industry |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 09-April-1869 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 09-April-1869 |
Dedication
| Approx. Monument Dedication Date: | January-1968 |
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The world`s largest nugget [2332 ozs] `The Welcome Stranger` was cut up on this anvil on the 9th Febr.1869.
Erected by John A. Flett
[Curator]
January 1968
