Dad's incredibly rare find on Aussie beach worth over $59,000 a kilo

Yahoo

11-03-2025

An Aussie dad claims to have stumbled across an extremely rare and potentially very valuable find while investigating ex-Cyclone Alfred's destructive wake.
The anonymous man told Yahoo News Australia he recently took his family to a beach near the border of New South Wales and Queensland to see the 'damage and if anything interesting [had] washed up'. Much to his surprise, he uncovered even more than he'd hoped for.
While picking up shells, the dad spotted what appeared to be a chunk of ambergris — a solid, waxy material substance produced in the intestine of less than 5 per cent of sperm whales. It is used for making perfume and is worth over $59,000 per kilogram based on previous sales.
'Because of its waxy texture and scent I instantly knew it was a whale by product,' the man said. 'I took it home and consulted some good friends from Australia and USA who are high ranked in fields of marine 'taxidermy' and a marine biology professor.'
After speaking with his mates, the dad used an expert recommended method to test if it was indeed ambergris. When he placed a hot metal needle into the approximately 350g chunk, a small puff of smoke emerged, he said.
After reviewing images of the possible treasure, Professor Michael Stoddart with the University of Tasmania, told Yahoo the 'material looks the right colour and texture for ambergris', though it would be helpful to see if there are any traces of squid beaks appearing in it. 'That would clinch it,' he said.
Sperm whales secrete the waxy material to help prevent the sharp beaks of squid — their main diet — from damaging their gut as they digest.
'It's thus part of the whale's poo. The stuff is black when voided and smells disgustingly of faeces but becomes greyish white after years floating about in the ocean subject to the action of saltwater and sunlight. By then it smells of musty/dampness — like fungi, or like a forest floor does after summer rain,' he explained.
While the discovery left the Queensland dad buzzing, Professor Stoddart cautioned other Aussies not to get too thrilled if they make a similar find.
'Most finds turn out not to be ambergris, so I'd caution anyone not to get too excited. Anyway, it can't legally be monetised in Australia so there's not much to get excited about!' he said.
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Under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 it is illegal to own, hold or sell ambergris because it's deemed to be part of an endangered species.
If found, it 'should be reported' to the relevant state or territory environment department, with varying laws surrounding ambergris around the country, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water states.
'Any findings must be turned into the relevant state authority — usually the state's museum or parks and wildlife agency. Having it in your possession requires a licence granted to you by that body,' Professor Stoddart said, noting it is freely owned and traded in most countries except for Australia and the USA.
The dad told Yahoo he is in the process of contacting authorities to get paperwork to keep his find.
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