Gold

Events Related To Gold And Its Discovery

By edwards11

  • Government Surveyor James McBrien discovers traces of gold in the Fish River, east of Bathurst.

    Government Surveyor James McBrien discovers traces of gold in the Fish River, east of Bathurst.

  • Explorer and geologist Paul de Strzelecki discovers small amounts of gold in silicate near Hartley in the Blue Mountains. On hearing of the find, New South Wales Governor George Gipps officially requests that no mentions are made of it in de Strzelecki's

  • William Campbell finds gold on his sheep run in Strathlodden, Victoria, in 1840.

  • Clergyman and amateur geologist William Branwhite Clarke discovers traces of gold at Hassan's Wells, near Lithgow. When presented with these new discoveries, Governor George Gipps responds, 'Put it away, Mr Clarke, or we shall all have our throats cut.'

  • Governor George Gipps moves to suppress all reports of gold discoveries in New South Wales.

  • First payable gold discovered at Ophir in NSW - beginning of the great Australian gold rush

  • Gold miners rebel at Eureka in Victoria, in protest at the conditions imposed by the 'Miner's Licence'. The rebellion led to the abolition of the Miner's Licence.

  • British Secretary of State gives permission for the establishment of the Sydney Mint. This was the first Royal Mint to be established outside of England.

  • Gold discovered in Queensland, at Rockhampton.

  • 'Welcome Stranger' nugget discovered by John Deason and Richard Oates in Moliagul, Victoria. It is the world's largest nugget found to date.

  • Rich gold deposits found in North Queensland.

  • First gold discovered in SA at Birdwood.

  • World's largest piece of gold-bearing material, the Holtermann Nugget (a mixture of slate and gold weighing 235 kg) found by William Holtermann at Hill End NSW.

  • First WA gold discoveries at Halls Creek. Triggers gold rush in WA.

  • Large amounts of gold found at the Murchison goldfield, WA.

  • Bayley and Ford discover large gold deposits at Coolgardie in WA.

  • Hannan's discovery at Kalgoorlie, the last and most important early goldfield.

  • The Perth Mint established to profit from Australia's richest goldfield at Kalgoorlie.