Knee deep in a muddy stream and an age-old pursuit, prospectors have battled it out at the Northern Territory Gold Panning Championships.
The annual event was held on Saturday in the Top End town of Pine Creek, about 220 kilometres south of Darwin, attracting about 40 entrants.
Gold panning adjudicator John Fisher said there were a few tricks that could give competitors an edge.
"The secret is, get plenty of water in there and get rid of all that sand," he said.
Mr Fisher said there was an undeniable thrill watching entrants — particularly younger competitors new to the gold panning game — find even a small amount of gold.
A sport of speed and precision
In gold panning competition, a competitor enters the river with a bucket of sand.
Inside the bucket, a few small pieces of gold are hidden.
When the competitor transfers the sand into a panning dish, their time starts.
When a piece of gold is discovered, a competitor then removes it from the pan and places it into a vial.
Once a panner believes they have found all the gold in their bucket of sand, they stop the clock.
However, if any gold flakes are missed, a time penalty is given.
Paul Watkins, who competed in the event, said he had developed a nice little gold collection after 35 years of panning.
"You see the gold in the pan and you think, 'wow, I've actually found it'," he said.
"I've got enough to melt down to about the size of a 20-cent piece."
The biggest show in town
Pine Creek's population, now about 400, peaked in 1895 at 750.
Then, the town's population was mostly Chinese prospectors searching for gold.
Gaye Lawrence, who volunteers with the Pine Creek Heritage and Tourism Association, said the traditions and Chinese heritage of the town were dearly valued.
"We thought having a festival for our town would put us on the map a bit," she said.
"To celebrate the mining history and the Chinese heritage. It's important."
