Not too sure that your info is quite right Baldy!
Rumoured sources of the gold are East of the Highway, Jessops Range and Maddens.
All had significant Hard rock shows, but who knows?
Sure, the big river is at the lowest point, so as we all know....
I believe the new venture that Palmerville are offering is 3 x 100sq kms, but one section for paid tours only. (Obviously a perceived 'better' area?)
For not having legal access to the area for so long, I think it is an awesome opportunity for FNQ prospectors that have been very limited for places to go after John shut down Maitland Downs.
As for the Chinese getting it all! 'We' have pulled 000's of ounces out of the R16 alone, which is just a smidge on the area's offered by this mob.
Sure, the prices look up there and the website is not all that informative yet.
I remember paying Doug Stone and Iain Aitken I think $700 to tag along with one of their tours for 4 days back in the early 90's. Got 10 ounces that trip, but gold was only $16 a gram!
Guy's I have absolutely no vested interest in this crew, never even met them, but I think its a step in the right direction for prospectors up here?