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The first official finding of gold in Australia was by James McBrien. The information was suppressed to keep the convicts from starting an uprise.
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Geologists P E Strzelecki and Rev W B Clarke find gold near Hartley.
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The transportation of convicts to NSW ceased.
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Gold waa discovered in California (announced in December).
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The Californian gold rush started. Many Australians set sail for California, hoping to strike it rich in the goldfields.
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Governor Fitzroy approached the Colonial Office, advocating a policy for the exploitation of mineral resources. He requested a geologist, which led to the appointment of Samuel Stutchbury. This gave approval for the mining of mineral resources.
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GOLD- Who is Edward Hargraves Edward Hargraves returned from the Californian gold rush and washed gold at Summer Hill Creek, Ophir. For this, he received recognition and financial rewards. The early rush to NSW led to the decline in population in Victoria, so a reward was offered to anyone who discovered gold there. Several claimants came forward, and by the end of 1851, the incredibly valuable Ballarat and Bendigo fields were in production. Licence fees of 30 shillings were introduced.
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Approximately 100 000 prospectors started arriving from overseas. Many left their jobs and came to the goldfields, hoping to earn a fortune. Women and children were left behind in their homelands, while the men went in search of gold. Australia's population rose from 404 276 to 1 097 305 between 1850 and 1860. Small gold deposits were discovered in New Zealand.
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The licence fee in NSW was reduced to shillings a month after riots at Turon. Victoria followed suit a few months later.
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Eureka Rebellion!Miners discontent with the licensing system and lack of political rights came to a head in the Eureka Stockade. An inquiry followed.
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In Victoria, the licence was replaced with the `Miner's Right', costing 1 pound per year and carrying the right to vote. An export duty of 2s 6d per ounce was placed on gold instead.
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NSW adopted similar changes in licensing and voting to Victoria.
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Gold is discovered in British Columbia. 25 000 prospectors arrived.
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A small deposit of gold was discovered north of Fitzroy River in north Queensland. The few acres were soon depleted by the arrival of many diggers. 5000-6000 footsore and penniless miners had to be helped to return to Victoria or to the inland NSW goldfields.
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A mass arrival of Chinese miners meant that by 1860 one fifth of all adult men in Victoria were Chinese.
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Riots occurred at Lambing Flat, where the European miners attacked the Chinese.
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Workable gold was discovered in New Zealand. Between 1861 and 1863, 64 000 people travelled to Otago from Australia, while only 8600 arrived from Britain.
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Gold was discovered at Coolgardie, Western Australia.
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A rich goldfield was discovered in Gympie, Queensland.
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Valuable deposits of very deep gold was discovered on the Rand, South Africa. It took money and machinery were both used to extract this gold.
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Gold was discovered at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
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Gold was discovered in Alaska.
