 In 1846, Campbell set out from the Macarthurs' stud farm at Camden, New South Wales, with 150 merinos, and overlanded to the Port Phillip District, searching for fresh pasture.After looking unsuccessfully for watered land in the uninhabited northern parts of the district, and being unable to obtain grazing licences elsewhere, Campbell settled near the town of Clunes, buying Tourall station, near the Clunes station owned by his brother-in-law Donald Cameron.In early 1850, Campbell discovered gold while upon the Clunes station owned by Cameron; he showed the gold to Cameron, but they decided not to make the find public, for fear that a gold rush – the Victorian gold rush ultimately came the following year – would impact on their pastoral activities, and would diminish the pool of available labour in the colony.