In July 1899, The Fiji Times reported a gold discovery “of payable nature” in the upper reaches of Rewa River and that locals had been busy combing the area, drinking beer in the process.
The newspaper went on to call it a “treasure hunter’s picnic” with the author complaining that “this is about the 99th expedition” which the writer has had to record.
Two decades earlier, in 1872, there were reports of a similar gold find in the Nasivi River within the Tavua district.
In the later 1920s, a large mineral ore was discovered in Yanawai, on Vanua Levu and later the first gold bullion from Mt Kasi in Savusavu was exported in 1932.
The man regarded as the father of Fiji’s gold industry was Bill Borthwick, a veteran of the Australian and New Zealand mineral exploration.
Together with some of his friends and associates they started digging in the rugged mountains of Viti Levu with the hope to striking a fortune.
This exploration spread to other parts of Fiji. Later in 1932, they discovered gold, ushering in the country’s gold industry and sparking Fiji’s gold rush period.
In October 1934, The Dolphin, Emperor and Loloma mines were born in Tavua’s goldfields. During 1935, an average of 50 proprietors’ mining rights were issued each month as mining circles in Australia, NZ and England became interested in Fiji’s mineral resource.
Ten years after Emperor, Dolphin and Loloma mines went into production, they produced gold valued over $15 million. Today,
“Vatukoula Gold Mines is the owner of the largest gold mine in Fiji, containing around four million ounces of mineral resources and 750,000 ounces of mineral reserves,” the VGM website says.
The mine has been operating in Fiji for “over 75 years and has produced in excess of seven million ounces of gold”.
