No Brisbane Metal Detecting Clubs

I am quite convinced now that there are NO Brisbane metal detecting clubs. I have not received any replies to my letters and no club listings show up in the Australian Gold Gem & Treasure Magazine. Also David from Treasure Enterprises of Australia informs me that he hasn't heard from them in years.

Therefore, I am looking for any mentors/groups in the Brisbane area who are keen to bring a new person into the hobby.

X-Terra Tips and Tricks

Links to get the best out of your Minelab X-Terra metal detectors.

X-Terra Tips from Minelabowners

Coinshooting with the X-Terra 70

X-Terra Target Id Chart for U.S. Coins

X-Terra Tips for the Coinshooter

X-Terra Tips & Tricks from NQ Miners Den

Tips for the X-Terra 70 from JacksGold

Time Team's Opinion of Metal Detectorists

Information courtesy of the Time Team website:

Detectorists have the potential to make a great contribution to archaeology if they work within the law and in conjunction with landowners, academics and field archaeologists. For example, the Hoxne Hoard, one of the richest Roman treasures ever discovered, was found in a Suffolk field by a detectorist who promptly reported it, saving many rare and delicate objects for conservation that would otherwise have been destroyed by the plough.

Time Team has benefited hugely, too. At the investigation at High Worsall in the 1998 series, detectorist John Bradbury gave us terrific assistance checking spoil heaps, and he found several medieval artefacts. And Tim Hand found many coins and the wonderful Roman brooch at Turkdean during the 1997 Live, plus even more brooches when we returned there for the 1999 series. We couldn't have managed to investigate the huge site at Bawsey St James for the 1998 Live without the help of all the detectorists, who work very closely with county archaeologist Andy Rogerson. And you can read detectorist Denny Woodthorpe’s account of his involvement with Time Team when he helped in the excavation of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery in the 2001 series.

Detecting is now an established tool within the battery of methods available to professional archaeologists, and Time Team is happy to use it. This is especially so if it is carried out by local detectorists with particular experience of conditions in the area.

Unfortunately, however, there is a negative side. Any idiot can get hold of a metal detector. The irresponsible and criminal use of this little machine has greatly damaged the reputations of responsible detectorists. If all detectorists worked with local landowners and archaeologists, and recorded, reported and deposited their finds in their local museum, there would be no difficulties. Regrettably, the activities of a minority have made many archaeologists wary of all metal detectorists. Finds are unearthed and removed with no record of the context in which they were found; less valuable (to non-archaeologists) finds are simply discarded.

At the site of the 2001 Live, unscrupulous detectorists were still raiding the site even as Time Team was setting up in advance of the dig. The importance of recording metal detectorists' finds is now recognised by the archaeological community, who have persuaded the government and the Heritage Lottery Fund to fund a voluntary recording scheme for detected finds: the Portable Antiquities Scheme. The bucket found by a detectorist at the site of the 2001 Live was reported under this scheme.

Australian Coin Books

If you are looking for books on Australian coins, I would suggest the following;

The Pocketbook Guide to Australian Coins and Banknotes 2008

Reference book for any collector of Australian coins & banknotes. Includes pre-decimal, decimal and commemorative issues, current circulation coins, gold, silver, bronze, copper-alluminium, precious metals, Kookaburra privy marks, banknotes, folders & portfolios. Pricing is approx $29.95AUD.
*****

Renniks Australian Coin and Banknote Values

Contains: decimal and pre-decimal coinage, commemorative issues, gold, silver, bronze, copper-alluminium, precious metals, Perth mint issues, and banknotes. Pricing approx $30.00AUD for softcover and $35.00AUD for hardcover.
*****

Time Team Find Gold Noble Coin at Codnor Castle

By far, my favourite show on TV is Time Team. In Australia it's on ABC1 on Tuesdays at 6pm as well as repeats on Wednesday at 5.35pm on ABC2.


Time: 05:38

The Time Team find a gold noble of Henry V (1413-1422) at Codnor Castle, struck at the London mint, in the Tower of London.

A Henry V gold noble coin is the most dramatic find as the Team explores the various phases of the medieval castle of Codnor.
Location: Derbyshire
Period: Medieval

Episode: Program 1, 2008.

Find's Treasure Forums

I highly recommend Find's Treasure Forums if you are looking for information on metal detectors.

One of the world's most popular websites with information on metal detectors, metal detecting, detectorists and treasure hunting. The site offers free chat rooms as well as classifieds for treasure hunting equipment. So if you're relic hunting on land or scuba diving underwater for long lost jewelry or treasure this site has what you need.

Letters to Brisbane Metal Detecting Clubs

I sent letters away yesterday to two clubs that I found while doing a search on the Internet. I have absolutely no idea if these two clubs are active anymore.

Brisbane Metal Detecting Club
45 Hansen Drive Lawnton Qld 4501

Metal Detecting Club of Brisbane
10 Mercury Drive Bethania QLD 4205

I'm hoping that at least one of these clubs is still active and I get a response. Bethania will be much closer but I am prepared to travel.

Fisher F70

This is another detector that I am considering.


Time: 09:33

A rundown of the controls & features of the new Fisher F70 metal detector.

F70 Sell Sheet

Minelabowners TV

Watch Free Detecting related Movies and TV Shows! Join the forum, ask questions and get the right answers on Minelabowners.com . Global Detecting Forum With Global Support.

Metal Detecting - Sherwood State Primary School in the 70's

My first recollection of metal detecting was when I was about 10 or 11. This must have been in the late 70's when our family use to live across the road from Sherwood State Primary School in Brisbane.

Sherwood State Primary was opened in 1867 and is one of the oldest schools in Brisbane.

I can't remember the gentleman's name or what detector he was using (White's keeps jumping into my head) or whether I was helpful or more of a hindrance. He was there everyday for about a week and from memory found over 1000 coins (both pre-decimal and decimal).

Unfortunately, about 10 years later, they brought in a lot of landfill to even up the playing fields.

I can still remember the detecting quite vividly and it has remained with me for 30 years. Wouldn't it be nice if that gentleman just happened to read this blog.

Minelab X-Terra Field Tests

I enjoyed reading and learning from these field tests conducted by the Treasure Hunting Magazine in the UK.

X-Terra 30

X-Terra 50

Other detectors reviews in roughly the same price range that could appeal to me;

Garrett Ace 250

Tesoro Tejon

White's Prizm IV

Metal Detecting Club or Mentor in Brisbane Area

I am currently looking for a metal detecting club or mentor in the Brisbane area. If you could pass on any contact details to vk4vcc@wia.org.au or in the comments section would be greatly appreciated.

Minelab X-Terra 70

The Minelab X-Terra 70 is out of my price range but it's good to see the differences between the 70 and the 50 and 30.

X-Terra 70 instructional film in two parts.

Part 1.

Time: 28:34
*****

Part 2.

Time: 22:58

Minelab X-Terra 30/50

I am leaning towards purchasing either the X-Terra 30 or the X-Terra 50. My main interest is in coin and treasure hunting rather than gold prospecting. Why the Minelab detectors, mainly because of the Australian connection.

Instructional movie on the Minelab X-Terra 30 & 50 machines. Filmed on location in Ireland and the USA.


Time: 33:07

Metal Detecting Jimboomba

I have created this site mainly because there is a lack of information in my local area. I am a complete novice, I don't even own a metal detector yet, however, I am researching as much as I can before I go ahead and take the plunge.

This site will have an Australian flavour to it, why, because there is a serious lack of information in this country. I can't even find a local club in my area. Most of the great sites I look at are either from the US or the UK.

You will be able to follow me right from the beginning, from purchasing my first metal detector right through to all my finds. You'll also follow all my mistakes but hopefully, read along as I gain more experience.