A gold mining "renaissance" in Victoria has marked a major milestone with the approval of the state's first exploration tunnels. Two companies are set to head underground to see if they are sitting on enough lucrative gold to justify a mine. It comes amid record gold prices and a spotlight on Victoria's potential due to the success of Fosterville Gold Mine, 20 kilometres east of Bendigo.

Southern Cross Gold's Sunday Creek project in Victoria shows no signs of tapering off, with a multi-rig drilling program at the pre-resource project 60km north of Melbourne continuing to expand the system.

Southern Cross Gold’s Sunday Creek Project has had a new exploration tunnel approved – and naturally, it has brought significant attention to the project as more minerals could be discovered.

The Victorian government has approved its second exploration decline in as many months, with Southern Cross Gold set to start excavations at the Sunday Creek gold-antimony project next year.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan's state government has formally approved a new antimony exploration tunnel at Sunday Creek, 24 kilometres north of Wallan in central Victoria to allow Southern Cross Gold to drill underground and test the feasibility of mining gold and antimony.

Southern Cross Gold has again had to reshuffle its list of best drill hits at its Sunday Creek project in Victoria.