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First Official Discovery Of Gold
First official discovery of gold in Australia. James McBrien, a government surveyor, found flakes of this precious metal in the sands of the Fish River, which was near Bathurst, New South Wales. The information was kept supressed to prevent unrest in the convicts. -
Discovery Of Gold Near Hartley
Geologist Paul Edmund Strzelecki, also known as Count Strzelecki, along with Reverend W B Clarke find gold in the Cox River, near Hartley. -
Transportation Of Conicts To NSW Ceased
In this year the transportation of convicts ceases. This is because a penitentiary is established at Pentonville Barnsbury, London thus decreasing and eventually ceasing the transport of convicts to NSW. -
Gold Discovery In California
In January, James Wilson Marshall discovers gold while constructing a saw mill along the American River northeast of the city now known as Sacremento. This discovery was announced in December of the same year. -
Governor Fitzroy Approaches The Colonial Office
Governor Fitzroy approached the Colonial Office, advocating, or backing a policy for the exploitation of mineral resources. He requested a geologist, which eventually resulted in the appointment of Samuel Stutchbury. This gave approval for the mining of mineral resources. -
Californian Gold Rush
In this year the Californian gold rush starts. Many Australians sailed to California in order to participate. Watch:
Quest For Gold -
Edward Hargraves Returns From California
Edward Hargraves returned from California and washed gold at Summer Hill Creek, Ophir. Though he little skill nor potential in discovering new fields, he received recognition and financial rewards. The early rush to the NSW fields led to a serious decline and decrease in the population in Victoria, so a reward was offered for the discovery of gold in that region. Many people came forward. Licence fees of 30 shillings a month were imposed. <a href='http://youtu.be/h53d63lQHrk' >Edward Hargraves< -
Prospectors Travel To Australia
Prospectors looking for gold, started arriving from overseas from countries such as China and America etc.. Approximately 100000 people arrived in 1852. Ships' crews were deserted. Women were left behind while their husbands went in search of gold. Australia's population increased from 404 276 to 1 097 305 between 1850 and 1860. Small gold deposits were discovered in New Zealand. -
Gold Licence Fee Decreased
The NSW licence fee for digging in the gold fields drops to 10 shillings per month after riots at Turon. Victoria followed suit a few months after this. -
Discontent With Licencing System
Discontent with the licensing system and lack of political rights came to a head in the Eureka Stockade. An inquiry followed. Riot or Revolution - The Eureka Stockade 1854 -
Miner's Rights
In Victoria, the gold licence was replaced with the `Miner's Right', costing 1 shilling per annum and carrying the right to vote. An export duty of 2s 6d per ounce was placed on gold instead. -
NSW Makes Similar Changes To Victoria
NSW adopted similar changes in licensing and voting to Victoria. -
Gold Discovery In British Columbia
Gold discovered in British Columbia (25 000 prospectors). -
Small Deposit Of Gold Found in The Fitzroy River
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. -
Lambing Flats Riot
There was a riot at Lambing Flats, in which the whites attacked the chinese miners -
Influx Of Chinese Miners
An Influx and increase of Chinese Miners meant that by 1860 one fifth, or 20% of all adult men in Victoria was Chinese. -
Lambing Flats Riots Continues
The whites continued to attack the Chinese miners. -
Workable Gold Discovered 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 Discovery In Western Australia
Gold discovered at Coolgardie, WA. -
Gold Field In Gympie
A valuable gold field discovered in Gympie, Queensland. -
Gold Discovered in South Africa
Valuable deposits of very deep gold discovered on the Rand, South Africa. It took money and machinery to extract this gold. -
Gold In Kalgoorlie
Gold discovered at Kalgoorlie, WA. -
Gold discovered in Alaska
Gold discovered in Alaska. 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.)
