-
First Finding of Gold
First official reports of the finding of gold in Australia by J McBrien. The information was suppressed.
This picture was an extract from his diary. -
Period: to
Gold
-
Gold near Hartley
Geologists P E Strzelecki and Rev W B Clarke find gold near Hartley. -
Convicts
Transportation of convicts to NSW ceased. -
Gold in California
Gold discovered in California (announced in December 1848). -
Californian Gold Rush
Californian gold rush. A great many Australians sailed for California. -
Governor Fitzroy and mineral recources
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. -
Edward Hargraves and the Beginning of the Gold Rush
Edward Hargraves returned from California and washed gold at Summer Hill Creek, Ophir. Although he showed little skill in discovering new fields, he received recognition and financial rewards. The early rush to the NSW fields led to a serious decline in the population in Victoria, so a reward was offered for the discovery of gold in that region. Several claimants came forward, and by the end of 1851 the incredibly rich Ballarat and Bendigo fields were in production. Licence fees of 30/- a month -
International Attention
Prospectors started arriving from overseas. Approximately
100 000 arrived in 1852. Ships' crews deserted. Women were left while their husbands went in search of gold. Australia's population went from 404 276 to 1 097 305 between 1850 and 1860. Small gold deposits were discovered in New Zealand. -
The Licence Fee
The licence fee in NSW was reduced to 10/- a month after near riots at Turon. Victoria followed suit a few months later. -
The Eureka Stockade
Discontent with the licensing system and lack of political rights came to a head in the Eureka Stockade. An inquiry followed. -
The Miner's Right VIC
In Victoria, the licence was replaced with the `Miner's Right', costing 1/- per annum and carrying the right to vote. An export duty of 2s 6d per ounce was placed on gold instead. -
Miner's Right NSW
NSW adopted similar changes in licensing and voting to Victoria. -
Gold in British Columbia
Gold discovered in British Columbia (25 000 prospectors). -
Gold in Queensland
A small deposit of gold was discovered north of Fitzroy River in north Queensland. The few acres were soon exhausted by the arrivals. 5000-6000 footsore and penniless diggers had to be helped to return to Victoria or to the inland NSW goldfields. -
Chinese at the Goldfields
An influx of Chinese miners meant that by 1860 one fifth of all adult men in Victoria were Chinese. -
Lambing Flat Riots
Lambing Flat riots, in which whites attacked Chinese miners. -
Gold In New Zealand
Workable gold discovered in New Zealand. Between 1861 and 1863, 64 000 people travelled to Otago from Australia, while only 8600 arrived from Britain. -
Gold in WA
Gold discovered at Coolgardie, WA. -
More Gold In QLD
A valuable gold field discovered in Gympie, Queensland. -
Deep Gold Found In South Africa
Valuable deposits of very deep gold discovered on the Rand, South Africa. It took money and machinery to extract this gold. -
More Gold in WA
Gold discovered at Kalgoorlie, WA. -
Gold In Alaska
Gold discovered in Alaska. -
Conclusion
Of the Australians who went to the goldfields, many had hoped to gain a stake to establish a farm or a business. Many found employment with the mining companies, operating
quartz-crushing machines or working on steam power generation. Others returned home or moved to other fields in Australia, New Zealand or America. -
Conclusion
The first goldfields were alluvial or surface goldfields, where the gold could be washed or winnowed from the soil. The life of these goldfields was short. In Victoria in 1852, it was estimated that the value of gold found by diggers was an
average of 324 oz per head. By 1856 it had fallen to 103 oz and it further declined to 78 oz in 1865. In Victoria in 1856, there were 115 000 prospectors (or alluvial diggers.) By 1865, the number had declined to 80 000.
