The Australian Gold Rush by Melissa 6L

First Findings of Gold

Jun 9, 1823

First official reports of the finding of gold in Australia by J McBrien. The information was suppressed.

Geologists Find Gold

Dec 23, 1839

Geologists P E Strzelecki and Rev W B Clarke find gold near Hartley.

Transportation of Convicts Stopped

Sep 28, 1840

Transportation of convicts to NSW ceased.

Gold Discovered in California

Jun 28, 1848

Gold discovered in California(announced in December 1848).

California Gold Rush

May 23, 1849

Californian gold rush.A great many Australians sailed for California.

Governor Fitzroy

Nov 28, 1849

Governor Fitzroy approched the Colonial Office,advocating a policy for the exploitatioin 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

Aug 23, 1851

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 of 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 were impo

Prospectors Arrived

Feb 23, 1852

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.

Licence Fees Reduced

Mar 28, 1853

The licence fee in NSW was reduced to 10/- a month after near riots at Turon.Victoria followed suit a few months later.

Discontent

Sep 7, 1854

Discontent with the licensing system and lack of political rights came to a head in the Eureka Stockade.An inquiry followed.

A Replaced Licence

Feb 12, 1855

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.

NSW Changes

Jun 11, 1857

NSW adopted similar changes in licensing and voting in Victoria.

New Discovery Area

Mar 7, 1858

Gold discovered in British Columbia(25 000 prospectors).

Small Amount of Gold Found

Nov 28, 1858

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 Miners

Jun 11, 1860

An influx of Chinese miners meant that by 1860 one fifth of all adult men in Victoria were Chinese.

Lambing Flat Riots

Jan 1, 1861

Lambing Flat riots,in which whites attacked Chinese miners.

Workable Gold

Feb 12, 1861

Workable gold discovered in New Zealand.Between 1861 and 1863,64 000 people travelled to Otago from Australia,while on 8600 arrived from Britain.

Western Australia Discovery

Jun 13, 1864

Gold discovered at Coolgardie,WA.

A Valuable Gold Field

Aug 24, 1867

A valuable gold field discovered in Gympie,Queensland.

Deep Gold Deposits

Nov 25, 1886

Valuable deposits of very deep gold discovered on the Rand,South Africa.It took money and machinery to extract this gold.

Kalgoorlie Western Australia

Jun 15, 1893

Gold discovered in Kalgoorlie Western Australia.

Alaska

Aug 22, 1896

Gold discovered in Alaska.