In the blistering heat of Western Australia’s goldfields, the Maney family are making a last-ditch push to hit their season target—and they’ve just brought in their not-so-secret weapon.
Ted and Leiyah Mahoney, prospecting veterans based near Cue, were joined by their daughter, Tyler, who flew 2,300 km from Melbourne to help them chase down one final payday before the season closes.
“I don’t get to see you as much as I’d like, so it’s like Christmas for me,” Ted said, welcoming his daughter back to the bush.
But this reunion was no holiday. With 8.5 ounces of gold still needed to reach their target and summer temperatures soaring over 40°C, the pressure was on.
Their claim, Goanna Gully—just 50 km from home—had been quiet for weeks. Then the ground gave up a $150 nugget. “Hopefully that’s the start of a patch,” Tyler said.
Soon after, the gold trickled in—$100 here, a small chunk there. “Never quite enough,” Ted muttered, sweat dripping, nerves fraying.
Then the game changed.
“Oh, now that sounds pretty good,” Tyler said as she unearthed a half-ounce nugget. Moments later, Leyah hit an earth-shaking signal.
“Oh my God,” she gasped. “That’s freaking heavy.”
The “monster nugget,” as she called it, could be season-defining.
Back at camp, they dumped their finds onto the scales. Tyler’s patch contributed 6.6 ounces.
Then Ted tipped the pan: 10.6 ounces.
“You beauty!” he shouted, overwhelmed.
Together, the Mahoneys walked away with over $166,000 in gold, smashing their 40-ounce goal.
Prospecting in WA? Here’s What You Need to Know
With interest in gold prospecting booming, Tyler Mahoney shared vital tips for newcomers:
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Get a Miner’s Right: Apply through the WA Mines Department.
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Know where you can go: Crown land, pending leases (blue on Tengraph), and—most valuably—Section 40E permits.
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Section 40E Explained: For $90, prospectors can access parts of exploration tenements—where up to 67% of WA’s gold is locked up.
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Respect the land: Notify pastoralists, don’t interfere with livestock, and always leave gates and fences as you found them.
“Do the right thing,” Mahoney urged. “There’s plenty of gold—and plenty of free info if you know where to look.”
