Gold has been a form of currency long before money existed. Today it's seen as a safe way to store capital because it's tangible, has uses beyond money and its value typically rises over time.
There are a few ways to invest in gold in Australia. You could physically buy gold from a bullion dealer, purchase gold stocks or ETFs or trade gold over the futures market.
In this guide, we'll run through each of these options:
Investors often see gold as a way to diversify their portfolios and as a safeguard against inflation and economic or global unrest.
And it's these very qualities drawing investors towards gold in 2024. With inflation remaining sticky and new conflict erupting in the Middle East, the price of gold has soared over 8% so far this year.
Last year in October, the price of gold in Australian dollars hit a new historical record of $3,136 per ounce with some analysts predicting that it could go as high as US$3,000 (AU$4,670) by the end of the year.
Investing in physical gold
This is the traditional approach and involves buying gold as a physical asset and owning it yourself. It allows you to get your hands on a tangible asset and avoid the counterparty risks associated with ETFs.
If you decide to buy physical gold, you'll then need to consider what form you'd like to acquire. You can buy gold bullion in bars or in coins. Bars are larger and therefore more expensive, but they are an effective option if you're looking to make a sizeable investment. Gold coins are smaller and less valuable, so they can be a more convenient option when you need to liquidate some of your investment.
There's an obvious downside though. You need to have a place to securely store your gold.
Gold bars
Gold bars generally range in size from 1/10oz (ounces) to 1kg, but there are bars of up to 500oz available. However, remember that precious metals use troy ounces and that 1 troy ounce equals 31.1 grams.
There are 2 types of gold bars: cast bars and minted bars. Cast bars are produced by pouring molten gold into an ingot mould, while minted gold bars are manufactured via a minting or stamping process. Cast bars are cheaper to produce, but minted bars look better and are generally easier to sell.
Gold coins
Mints around the world also produce gold bullion coins. Typically smaller than bars and ingots, they're generally considered to be a more convenient option for many investors. Not only are they cheaper to buy, but they also make it easier to liquidate a small portion of your investment when you need cash. Coins contain between 1/10oz and 1oz of pure gold.
These coins also have a nominal monetary value and can be accepted as legal tender in the country where they're made – examples include the Australian Kangaroo, the American Gold Eagle, the Canadian Maple Leaf and the UK's Gold Sovereign.
Finder survey: How many Australians own gold as an investment?
Response
No
89.74%
Yes
10.26%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1004 Australians, December 2023
There are several options to consider when choosing where to buy gold, so make sure to keep the following in mind:
Location. There are several gold dealers around Australia, so the location of those dealers will influence your decision if you plan on buying gold in person.
Online options. Many online dealers allow you to conveniently buy gold bullion over the internet. As well as specialist dealers, you can also buy gold through marketplaces such as eBay and even arrange purchases through precious metal forums. However, as is always the case when spending money online, you'll need to make sure you know who you're dealing with – do some research to find out whether the seller is reputable and trustworthy.
How the gold was produced. You'll also need to find out where the dealer gets their gold from. Is it refined and produced by an established and recognised manufacturer?
Premiums and commissions. Read the fine print to find out what fees the dealer charges. Expect to pay a commission to the dealer, which is usually folded into the purchase price as well as an assay fee to check the purity of the gold and to verify its authenticity, but shop around for the best value.
Compare price to Australian gold price. Gold prices are commonly quoted in US dollars, so make sure you compare the price offered by a dealer with the current price of gold in Australian dollars.
Delivery. Find out how and when the gold will be transported to you or to its place of storage. Is it insured if anything goes wrong during the delivery process?
Storing your gold
Once you've purchased your gold, you'll also need to find a safe place to store it. There are several options to consider, including the following:
Bullion dealers. Many gold dealers will also offer a storage service where you can keep your gold bars or coins for a fee, so ask about the storage options available when you make your purchase.
Safety deposit boxes. You can rent a safety deposit box at a bank to securely store your gold bullion.
Secure vault storage. For high-level security, you may want to research vault storage companies near you and the storage options they offer.
At home. You can also choose to store your gold at home. This obviously may not be as secure as some other options, so you may want to get a home safe installed. You'll also need to update your home and contents insurance to make sure your precious metal is covered by your policy.
Investing in gold on the stock market
It's possible to invest in gold through the stock market by profiting from gold prices rather than physically owning gold.
This is done by buying shares in companies that have exposure to gold, including gold miners. This can be done through individual shares or you can buy units in a gold-themed ETF.
With this approach, you don't actually buy any gold – rather you're investing in the performance of the gold industry or the mining company. To invest in gold via the stock market, you need a stockbroker or online trading platform.
But remember, you own part of a business (or multiple businesses in the case of an ETF).
This means investors have an extra layer of complexity. Not only do you need to know the price of the asset, but also at what price the business can produce the raw material and be profitable. It is after all possible for the gold price to increase while the business you own loses money.
However, the flip side is also true. If your investment mines additional minerals, it could reduce your risk should the gold price fall.
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ASX-listed gold stocks
There are a number of gold stocks and ETFs listed in Australia. Some of the largest and best-known gold stocks include the following:
BetaShares Gold Bullion ETF – AU Hedged (ASX: QAU)
While physical gold is sometimes pegged as a "safer" investment option, gold stocks or ETFs expose you to all the usual risks that the stock market carries. This includes market volatility, company bankruptcy and the possibility of losing your investment.
When you buy units in a gold-themed ETF, you're tracking the price movements of the commodity itself or stocks in multiple companies with gold exposure – read our comprehensive ETF guide for information.
The world still values physical gold, so it is often used as protection if stock markets sour, or interest rates rise. To take a lot of the guess work out of investing in the precious metal, a physical gold ETF can provide you with easy access to the commodity rather than having to pick a winning gold miner or take the risk of holding physical bars of gold yourself.
Important: The standard brokerage fee displayed is the trade cost for new customers to purchase $1,000 of either Australian or US shares. Where a platform charges different fees for both US and Australian shares we show the lower of the two. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.
Invest in gold via the futures market
An alternative to buying gold stocks or units in an ETF is to speculate on price movements through CFD investing in the futures market. CFD investors try to profit from gold price movements – whether up or down.
Again, you don't own the asset itself, but instead own contracts based on the price movement.
That means that even if gold prices are falling, CFD investors can still make a profit (as well as a loss). However, because CFDs are risky and are complex derivative products, CFDs are better suited to advanced traders.
Disclaimer: General information only. All forms of investments (and in particular, trading CFDs, commodities and forex) carry significant risk, including the risk of losing more than the invested amounts, market volatility and liquidity risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Such activities are not suitable for most investors.
Gold has a lot of benefits for investors, especially during more volatile periods.
Generally speaking, over a long enough time horizon gold appreciates in value, has universal recognition and can work as a hedge against inflation.
In fact, in some countries it is sill used as a form of currency and a gauge of wealth.
So gold can be used to protect and diversify your wealth.
However, just because gold has a proven track record, it comes with some risks, especially if you are trading CFDs.
Is gold a good investment?
This one is a little difficult to unpack and will all depend on your own risk profile and key objectives with investing.
While over a shorter period the price of gold can be incredibly volatile, take a long-term view and gold generally increases over time.
It also has a bonus of acting as a hedge against inflation. So in high inflation times, like we've experienced in 2022 and 2023, gold generally appreciates in value offsetting other losses.
But, gold can underperform the share market.
If you look at macrotrends gold has significantly underperformed shares in the US over a 100-year period. It is the same story over 5, 10 and 30 years, although if you take the last 20 years gold is beating the Dow Jones, largely thanks to 2 down periods for the market being the GFC and COVID.
What is the best way for beginners to buy gold in Australia?
If you're just starting out the easiest ways to buy gold in Australia is either physically or through an ETF.
If you were to buy gold from the Perth Mint you can buy gold, silver and platinum metals in a variety of ways including collector coins, bullions and jewellery. Of course, if you buy gold from a mint directly like this, you'll have to have a way of storing it. It will become your responsibility to look after it.
If you haven't got a place to store your gold, a gold ETF is probably the second easiest way to invest in gold in Australia. You'll need to sign up to a broker in order to buy these ETFs, but it comes with an added perk of not having to store the gold anywhere.
Protect your wealth. Gold has long been seen as a reliable store of value that is largely unaffected by the factors that influence other investments. For example, when share prices plummet, the price of gold usually rises as investors look for somewhere "safe" to park their money.
Diversify your portfolio. Gold's "safe haven" status also makes it well worth considering if you're looking to diversify your investment portfolio and protect your overall financial position during a market downturn.
Easy to buy. Many dealers specialise in buying and selling gold, so getting your hands on this precious metal may be easier than you think.
It's a tangible asset. If global financial systems were to somehow collapse, such as what happened during the Great Depression, owning gold as a physical asset offers financial protection. Gold also can't be destroyed by fire or water damage and won't corrode over time.
Liquid. Gold is also easy to convert to cash whenever you need to do so.
Cons
Long-term returns may be lower. Gold is commonly seen as a steady investment, so it may not offer the same potential for big returns as other investments.
There are fees to consider. You'll need to factor additional costs such as dealer fees, delivery, storage, security and insurance into your calculations.
No ongoing income. Unlike owning property or shares, which can both provide an ongoing source of income in the form of rent and dividends respectively, gold doesn't provide regular income.
Frequently asked questions
Some banks sell gold to customers, but many do not. If you're interested in buying from a bank, do some research to find out which banks offer this service.
Yes, it is safe to buy gold online, provided you're purchasing from a reputable gold dealer. Make sure you thoroughly research the legitimacy of any dealer by checking to see whether they're accredited with any trade associations and by checking their reputation and how long they've been operating before deciding whether to buy.
Aside from purchasing gold as a physical commodity, there are a couple of other ways you can potentially make money from gold. For example, it's possible to invest in ETFs that track the price of gold or invest in gold mining companies. Of course, these options also come with a certain level of risk attached and there's no guarantee of making a profit.
If you buy or sell gold in an investment form (gold of at least 99.5% purity), GST is not payable. However, if your gold bullion increases in value from the time you buy it to the time you sell it, capital gains tax may apply. Contact the ATO or your accountant for more details.
Important information: Powered by Finder.com.au. This information is general in nature and is no substitute for professional advice. It does not take into account your personal situation. This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for most investors. You do not own or have any interest in the underlying asset. Capital is at risk, including the risk of losing more than the amount originally put in, market volatility and liquidity risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Tax on profits may apply. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination for the product on the provider's website. Consider your own circumstances, including whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money and possess the relevant experience and knowledge. We recommend that you obtain independent advice from a suitably licensed financial advisor before making any trades.
Kylie Purcell is the senior investments editor and analyst at Finder. She has completed a Certificate of Securities and Managed Investments (RG146) and specialises in investment products including online brokers, robo-advisors, stocks and ETFs.
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