How gold is priced in Australia
Australian bullion is priced in dollars per ounce, gram and kilo. For jewellery, 9ct is widely sold alongside 14ct and 18ct. The prices here are the international spot price converted at today's AUD/USD rate: the value of the metal before dealer premiums and any GST.
GST
Gold of at least 99.5% fineness in investment form (bars, wafers and bullion coins) is "precious metal" under GST law: its first sale after refining is GST-free and later sales are input-taxed, so investors effectively pay no GST. Jewellery, proof and collector coins and lower-purity gold carry 10% GST when sold by a registered business.
The Perth Mint and the Kangaroo coin
The Perth Mint opened in 1899 as a branch of London's Royal Mint and is now owned by the Western Australian government; it is both a mint and a refinery. Its best-known bullion coin, the Kangaroo, was launched in 1986 as the Australian Gold Nugget and has shown a kangaroo since 1989. It is 99.99% gold and legal tender, with an A$100 face value on the 1 oz coin, and comes in sizes from 1/20 oz to 1 kilo. The face value is nominal: the coin is worth its gold content plus a premium.
Why dealer and Perth Mint prices differ from this page
The Perth Mint and dealers publish their own buy and sell prices for each product. They start from the spot price shown here and add a premium for minting, distribution and margin, which is highest on small coins such as the 1/10 oz Kangaroo and lowest on 1 kilo bars. When you sell back, you receive less than the selling price, usually close to the spot value for bullion. Timing matters too: the spot price moves around the clock, while a dealer's price list may update a few times an hour.
Buying bullion: ID and cash rules
Since 1 July 2026, bullion dealers and jewellers are regulated by AUSTRAC when a purchase is paid with A$10,000 or more in cash or cryptocurrency, including linked payments that add up to that amount. The dealer must identify you before the sale and report cash transactions of A$10,000 or more. Splitting payments to stay under the threshold can itself be reported as suspicious. Payments by bank transfer or card are not caught by this rule.
Tax when you sell
Gold bullion is a capital gains tax asset: a profit on sale is generally taxed as a capital gain, and individuals who held it for more than 12 months can usually claim the 50% CGT discount. Coins and jewellery can count as collectables, which have their own rules: a gain is disregarded if the item cost A$500 or less, and losses can only reduce gains on other collectables. This is general information, not tax advice; check with the ATO or a tax adviser.
Where prices come from
Australian dealers and the Perth Mint set prices from the international gold price, which is traded around the clock in London, New York and Shanghai, converted to Australian dollars. Australia is one of the world's largest gold producers, mining around 300 tonnes a year.
Tax and duty information last reviewed October 2026. Rules change — confirm with your dealer or tax authority before a large purchase.