Golden Eagle Nugget

The Western Australian Goldfields have yielded some of the world’s most spectacular gold nuggets, but none compare to the Golden Eagle—the largest nugget ever found in Western Australia. Discovered in 1931 by James Larcombe on his father’s claim at Larkinville, 64 km south of Coolgardie, this incredible nugget weighed 1,135 ounces (35.5 kg), ranking as the 9th largest gold nugget ever found in the world.

At the height of the Great Depression, the Golden Eagle was sold to the State Government for £5,438. Sadly, in December 1931, it was melted down to help raise much-needed funds for Western Australia, meaning this legendary nugget exists today only in photographs and history. Despite this, its discovery remains a symbol of the immense wealth hidden beneath the Goldfields, and a reminder of how gold mining has shaped the economic and social history of the region.

This historic photograph captures the momentous discovery of the Golden Eagle Nugget, one of Western Australia’s most famous gold finds. The massive nugget, discovered by Jim Larcombe in 1931, weighed an astonishing 1,135 ounces (32.2 kg), making it the largest nugget ever found in Western Australia.

Seated in the photograph are some of the most influential figures in the Goldfields at the time. Claude de Bernales, the flamboyant mining entrepreneur, is seated on the right, while Jim Larcombe, the nugget’s finder, stands proudly behind it. Also present are:
• Jack Scadden, Minister for Mines
• Sir James Mitchell, Premier of Western Australia
• Ben Leslie, Mayor of Kalgoorlie
• Ernest Williams, Manager of the Boulder Perseverance Mine