Rokeby Resources Starts Diamond Drilling at Sunnyside Gold Deposit

Drilling the Future: Rokeby Resources Kicks Off High-Grade Gold Campaign at Sunnyside

Rokeby Resources (ASX: RKB) has announced the commencement of a nine-hole, 2,180-metre diamond drilling program at the Sunnyside deposit within the Omeo Gold Project in north-east Victoria — marking the first time Rokeby Resources starts diamond drilling at Sunnyside gold deposit in Omeo Gold Project in 13 years. The program is designed to upgrade a Historical Estimate of 2.4 million tonnes at 4.02 g/t gold for 320,000 ounces into a JORC (2012)-compliant mineral resource, with assay results expected within four to six weeks.

"Drilling is underway at Sunnyside for the first time in 13 years, and the program is designed to validate one of Victoria's most compelling high-grade gold opportunities and deliver the data required for a resource estimate in accordance with JORC (2012) later this year."
— Richard Beazley, Proposed Managing Director, Rokeby Resources

Why Sunnyside Demands Attention

The Sunnyside deposit sits within the broader Mt Wills area of the Omeo Gold Project, located approximately five hours north-east of Melbourne. The project covers two distinct tenement areas — Mt Wills (EL 6323 and MIN 4921, one of Victoria's longest continually granted mining leases) and Cassilis (EL 5504 and EL 5427).

What immediately sets Sunnyside apart is the quality of its historical drill results. The company is targeting some of the most impressive intercepts seen in Victorian gold exploration:

These are not typical exploration-stage numbers. Intercepts of this calibre — particularly the 238.5 g/t and 52.3 g/t results — reflect the ultra-high-grade nature of the mineralised shoots that the current program is now specifically targeting.

Critically, the mineralisation across Sunnyside's 5.8 km mineralised zone has not been closed off, meaning the deposit remains open along strike and at depth. This open-ended geometry is a compelling signal for resource growth potential.

Furthermore, the broader Mt Wills area is supported by a rich production history. Historical mining in the region yielded more than 235,000 ounces of gold at grades exceeding 18 g/t — a benchmark that contextualises just how prolific this gold system has been.

The Drill Program: Precision Targeting of Six High-Grade Shoots

The current nine-hole program is not a blanket exploration exercise. It is a carefully structured, target-specific campaign designed to test the extensions and continuity of known high-grade zones. The program is broken down as follows:

1. Two holes targeting the up/down plunge extension of the 15.9m @ 52.3 g/t Au intercept from SSDH017, with the first hole designed as a twin to confirm mineralisation.
2. One hole testing the down plunge of mineralisation from SSDH001.
3. One hole testing the down plunge of mineralisation from SSDH040.
4. Two holes testing around the high-grade zone of 3.3m @ 17.6 g/t Au at 198m from SSDH045.
5. Two holes testing around the high-grade zone of 3.5m @ 26.6 g/t Au at 164.1m from SSDH053.

The total program spans nine holes for 2,180 metres, with six distinct high-grade shoots in scope. This level of precision targeting reflects the technical confidence Rokeby holds in the structural understanding of the deposit.

Understanding Diamond Drilling and Why It Matters Here

What is diamond drilling?

Diamond drilling is a technique that uses a rotating drill bit embedded with industrial diamonds to cut through rock and extract a cylindrical core sample. Unlike rotary air blast or reverse circulation methods, diamond drilling recovers an intact rock core, providing geologists with highly detailed structural, mineralogical, and geochemical data.

Why does it matter at Sunnyside?

Sunnyside hosts steeply dipping gold-bearing structures — narrow, high-grade veins that require precise three-dimensional understanding to define accurately. Diamond drilling is the preferred method in these settings because the intact core allows geologists to measure the orientation of mineralised veins, assess continuity, and reliably sample grade. This is particularly important when building a JORC (2012)-compliant resource estimate, which demands robust data integrity.

Key Technical Terms Explained

JORC (2012): The Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves — the industry-standard framework governing how resource estimates are reported on the ASX.

Historical Estimate: A resource estimate prepared under older reporting standards (in this case, JORC 2004) that has not yet been independently verified under the current JORC (2012) code.

g/t Au: Grams of gold per tonne of rock — the standard measure of gold grade.

Down plunge extension: Drilling deeper along the trajectory of a known mineralised zone to test whether it continues at depth.

Strike: The horizontal direction of a geological structure; "open along strike" means the mineralisation has not been tested to its lateral limits.

A Milestone in Context: The Acquisition Framework

Rokeby notes that the Sunnyside drilling program has been commenced by Tiger Tasman Minerals Limited in anticipation of the completion of Rokeby's proposed acquisition of the Omeo Gold Project. The acquisition remains subject to the satisfaction of conditions precedent, as outlined in Rokeby's transaction announcement on 24 April 2026.

The fact that drilling has commenced ahead of formal completion underscores the strategic alignment between both parties. Richard Beazley characterised the approach as "disciplined and measured," noting that the rapid commencement of drilling reflects "confidence in the asset" and the company's "readiness to unlock its value."

What Comes Next: A Clear Pathway to Resource Definition

Rokeby has outlined a structured set of near-term milestones that provide investors with a well-defined roadmap:

The conversion of the current Historical Estimate into a JORC (2012)-compliant resource is the pivotal near-term objective. This upgrade would represent a significant de-risking event for the project and could, in addition, unlock further stages of exploration and development planning across the broader Mt Wills area.

The Investment Case: High-Grade, Open-Ended, and Advancing Rapidly

Several factors combine to make this an investment story worth following closely as Rokeby Resources starts diamond drilling at Sunnyside gold deposit in Omeo Gold Project.

1. Grade quality is genuinely exceptional

Few exploration-stage deposits in Australia — let alone Victoria — carry historical intercepts of the calibre seen at Sunnyside. A 52.3 g/t gold intersection over nearly 16 metres and a 238.5 g/t result place this deposit firmly in the upper tier of high-grade Australian gold assets at comparable stages of development.

2. The resource base is substantial and open

A Historical Estimate of 320,000 ounces at 4.02 g/t gold across the Mt Wills area provides a meaningful foundation. Furthermore, the fact that mineralisation remains open along the 5.8 km zone and at depth suggests the current estimate likely understates the true scale of the system.

3. The project is fully permitted and drill-ready

The Sunnyside deposit is fully permitted and ready for drilling — a logistical advantage that removes one of the most common delays in Australian resource development. The rapid commencement of this program demonstrates that readiness conclusively.

4. A near-term assay catalyst is imminent

With results expected in four to six weeks, investors have a concrete short-term event to monitor. Positive assay outcomes from the six targeted high-grade shoots could materially reinforce confidence in the resource's grade continuity and scale.

5. Victorian gold jurisdiction with deep historical pedigree

The Omeo district's historical production of more than 235,000 ounces at grades exceeding 18 g/t establishes the geological credentials of the region. However, it is important to note this is not greenfields exploration — it is disciplined resource advancement in a proven goldfield.

Why Investors Should Keep Watching Rokeby Resources

As Rokeby Resources starts diamond drilling at Sunnyside gold deposit in Omeo Gold Project for the first time in 13 years, the company is at a genuinely active inflection point. With a high-grade asset in an established Victorian gold corridor, a clear technical program underway, and a defined pathway to a JORC (2012) resource estimate in the second half of 2026, the company is moving with evident purpose.

"We have taken a disciplined and measured approach throughout this process, which gives us strong conviction in both the quality and scale of this opportunity. The rapid commencement of drilling reflects not only our confidence in the asset but also our readiness to unlock its value."
— Richard Beazley, Proposed Managing Director, Rokeby Resources

The combination of exceptional historical grades, an open mineralised system, a fully permitted deposit, and imminent assay results creates a near-term news flow dynamic that warrants close attention. The broader Mt Wills integration — incorporating both the Maude and Sunnyside deposits — further suggests this initial program is the beginning of a much larger exploration campaign.

Key Takeaway: As Rokeby Resources starts diamond drilling at Sunnyside gold deposit in Omeo Gold Project, the company is advancing one of Victoria's highest-grade gold opportunities, with drilling now underway for the first time in 13 years. Backed by exceptional historical intercepts, a 320,000-ounce historical resource base, and a clear pathway to JORC (2012) resource definition in H2 2026, investors have a well-defined set of near-term catalysts to monitor — beginning with assay results expected in four to six weeks.

Important Note: The resource estimates referenced in this article are historical estimates and are not reported in accordance with the JORC Code (2012). A competent person has not done sufficient work to classify these historical estimates as mineral resources or ore reserves under the current JORC Code, and there is no certainty that further work will result in a JORC (2012)-compliant mineral resource being defined. The Omeo Gold Project acquisition remains subject to completion of conditions precedent as outlined in Rokeby's announcement of 24 April 2026.

Ready to Catch the Next Major ASX Gold Discovery Before the Market Does?

Discovery Alert's proprietary Discovery IQ model scans ASX announcements in real time, instantly identifying high-grade opportunities like significant gold discoveries and delivering actionable alerts directly to subscribers — explore Discovery Alert's discoveries page to see how major mineral finds have historically generated extraordinary returns, and begin your 14-day free trial today to position yourself ahead of the broader market.