Mr Hill has just finished writing a definitive account of the characters and events surrounding the discovery of gold in Australia, starting with Ophir.

“I have tracked it on foot, in vehicles and in the air by chopper and I have completely scoured the area,” he said.

“I am absolutely convinced there is still plenty of gold from Cadia, up through Lucknow and to the upper area of the Turon.”

In writing his latest book Mr Hill says he has come to the realisation that the discovery of gold at Ophir was the most remarkable event in Australian history.

“It changed us forever,” he said.

Mr Hill’s book, which is due for release next year, will be published by Random House and follows his first book about Fairbridge Farm, The Forgotten Children, and his last book, 1788, The Brutal Truth of The First Fleet.

Mr Hill’s new book will tell stories from all over Australia about our gold pioneers.

“When you compare how Ballarat has built on its history of gold discovery to promote the city, it is in complete contrast to the Orange and Ophir areas,” he said.

“In some ways I think it is a shame that there is only a plinth there to mark the historic event.

“But I suppose I am torn because on the other hand the area around Ophir has been magnificently preserved and I believe it is a rare piece of pristine Australian wilderness.”

Mr Hill said another important aspect of his research into Ophir was learning about the link between Edward Hargraves, John Lister and James Tom, who all claimed the first discovery at Ophir in 1851.

“Hargraves was exposed as a fraud and John Lister and James Tom had a vigorous 40-year struggle to be recognised as the first to discover gold,” he said.

Mr Hill said although others before him had written extensively about gold discoveries in the local area, such as Bill Glasson, he hopes he has taken it one step further by delving into the many characters and events at Australian goldfields.

Mr Hill said the idea for his last book on the First Fleet was given to him by his publishing company.

“My first reaction was ‘hasn’t that been done before’, but I am a storyteller and I feel I was able to tell the story of the people who were there,” he said.

“This book about gold was my idea and I hope to do the same thing, tell the story of some of the many and varied characters involved,” he said.