Lasseter's Reef facts for kids

Lasseter's Reef is a famous story about a huge amount of gold that was supposedly hidden in the middle of central Australia. A gold seeker named Harold Bell Lasseter claimed he found this gold in 1897. But he later forgot exactly where it was! He died trying to find it again in the desert. The gold's location is still a big mystery today—no one even knows if it really exists.

The Story Begins

Lasseter first told his amazing story in 1929. He said he had found the gold near the border of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. This area was completely unknown back then, with no maps. After coming out of the desert, he spent the next 30 years trying to get people to pay for a new trip to find the gold again.

However, most people didn't listen to him. At the time, many people were already finding lots of gold in the gold rush at Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. No one wanted to risk going into the dangerous, unknown desert.

The Big Expedition

Things changed during the Great Depression, a time when many people had no jobs or money. People became very interested in Lasseter's story. He finally got enough money to start a big search party to find the gold.

But the trip was incredibly difficult. They had to travel very long distances, there were no maps to guide them, and finding water was a huge challenge. When the group got lost, some people who were with Lasseter started to call him a liar. They left him behind.

Lost in the Desert

Lasseter decided to continue with just one other man. This man later said that Lasseter became very confused and struggled mentally in the desert. Eventually, he also left Lasseter.

Now completely alone, Lasseter kept going into the desert. But he soon became very tired and had no water left. He died in early 1931 from being too tired and not having enough food. He was trying to reach Uluru or Kata Tjuta.

A bushman found Lasseter's body in March 1931. We know about Lasseter's difficult trip from the stories told by the people who traveled with him. The last part of his journey is known from Lasseter's own diary, which was found with his body.

A Lasting Legend

No maps showing where the famous gold reef was ever found. The tale of Lasseter's Reef has become a true legend in Australia. It is probably the most famous "lost mine" story in the country. People still talk about it today!