Goldfields & Northparkes Mine
Discover the gold mining history that shaped the Alectown region and explore the story of Northparkes Mine, one of the region’s significant modern mining operations.
Goldfields
The history of the Alectown region’s gold rush dates back to around 1862, when gold was discovered in nearby Forbes. The discovery attracted thousands of prospectors to the region, with around 28,000 people gathering at what is now the site of Forbes. Within just 12 months, more than 235,000 ounces of gold had been extracted, establishing the wider region as an important centre for gold mining.
Between 1862 and 1864, a number of gold-bearing reefs were opened around nearby Parkes. By 1871, rich alluvial gold leads had also been discovered around Alectown, Parkes and Peak Hill. This period played an important role in shaping the history and development of the local region.
Several historic mining sites can be found around Alectown, including Stockmans Mine, Spider Mine and Cobweb Diggings. These sites are reminders of the prospectors and miners who once travelled through the region in search of gold and contributed to the area’s rich mining heritage.
From Goldfields to Modern Mining
While the early mining history of Alectown was driven largely by the search for gold, mining continues to play an important role in the region today. Approximately 25 kilometres west of Alectown is Northparkes Mine, a modern mining operation producing copper, gold and silver.
Northparkes represents a new chapter in the region’s long mining story, combining advanced mining methods, modern infrastructure and large-scale mineral processing with the area’s long-established mining heritage.
Northparkes Mine
Northparkes Mine has been operating since 1994, when it became the first block cave mining operation in Australia. The operation is located approximately 25 kilometres west of Alectown and employs around 630 people.
In December 2023, Evolution Mining acquired an 80% interest in Northparkes, entering into a long-standing joint venture with the Sumitomo Group, which retains a 20% interest. The mine is supported by modern infrastructure and an onsite processing plant that produces copper-gold-silver concentrate.
The concentrate produced at Northparkes is transported to Newcastle before being shipped internationally. The operation is well established and continues to use sophisticated mining and processing infrastructure to recover valuable minerals from deposits located within the area.
Mining and Processing
Northparkes uses both underground and open-pit mining methods and incorporates several stages in the processing of extracted ore. These include crushing, grinding, flotation, thickening and filtering, which are used to separate and concentrate the valuable minerals.
In 2025, processing production was approximately 7.3 million tonnes per annum, with approximately 73% gold recovery and 85% copper recovery. These processes allow the operation to produce copper-gold-silver concentrate that can be transported for further processing and international distribution.
Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves
Northparkes has significant mineral resources and ore reserves containing both gold and copper. Its reported Mineral Resources include approximately 480 million tonnes at 0.19 g/t gold and 0.51% copper, representing around 3.0 million ounces of contained gold and 2.4 million tonnes of contained copper.
The reported Ore Reserves are approximately 81 million tonnes at 0.28 g/t gold and 0.52% copper, representing around 0.73 million ounces of contained gold and 420,000 tonnes of contained copper.
The mineralisation at Northparkes is classified as porphyry copper-gold, with minerals including bornite and chalcopyrite. The combination of copper and gold resources makes Northparkes an important part of the region’s modern mining industry.
Northparkes Production
Northparkes continues to produce significant quantities of copper and gold. In FY2025, reported production was approximately 49,044 ounces of gold and 28,485 tonnes of copper.
The mine’s scale, processing infrastructure and modern mining methods demonstrate how the region has evolved from the early alluvial gold workings of the 1800s to sophisticated large-scale mining operations.
A Continuing Mining Story
From the discovery of gold near Forbes in the 1860s to the development of modern mining operations such as Northparkes, mining has played an important role in the history and development of the Alectown region.
The historic Goldfields around Alectown provide a connection to the area’s early prospectors and mining communities, while Northparkes represents the continuing importance of mining in the region today. Together, they tell the story of a landscape shaped by generations of exploration, mining and industry.