Episode 034 – Lasseter's Reef: Australia's Lost City of Gold (1930)

Somewhere in the vast deserts of central Australia, a legendary gold reef may lie waiting to be discovered. At least, that's what prospector Harold Lasseter claimed. Lasseter's Reef became one of Australia's most enduring treasure-hunting mysteries after Lasseter reported finding an extraordinarily rich deposit of gold. But the discovery was never conclusively verified. When Lasseter returned to search for the reef in 1931, the expedition ended in tragedy, and he disappeared in the desert, presumed dead. Since then, adventurers and prospectors have continued searching for the elusive reef. Was Lasseter telling the truth, mistaken about what he found, or chasing a legend that never existed? Join Holly and Matthew as they explore the story of Lasseter's Reef, the expeditions to find it, and the mystery behind Australia's own legendary lost treasure. *** Sources cited: Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. 1930. "Gold and Minerals." May 17: 15. Accessed August 24, 2021. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/137846460. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1931. "Body found in Central Australia." April 29: 11. Accessed August 24, 2021. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16773293. The Evening News. 1931. "Loneliest man in the whole of Aust. just sits and waits." January 21: 3. Accessed August 24, 2021. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201502904. The Cairns Post. 1931. "Lure of gold in Central Australia, Explorer found dead." April 29: 5. Accessed August 24, 2021. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/48702672. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.