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First official reports of the finding of gold in Australia by J McBrien. The information was suppressed.
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Geologists P E Strzelecki and Rev W B Clarke find gold near Hartley.
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Transportation of convicts to NSW ceased.
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Gold discovered in California (announced in December 1848).
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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. -
Californian gold rush. A great many Australians sailed for California.
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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. -
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 in NSW was reduced to 10/- a month after near riots at Turon. Victoria followed suit a few months later.
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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/- per annum 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 discovered in British Columbia (25 000 prospectors).
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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.
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Lambing Flat riots, in which whites attacked Chinese miners.
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An influx of Chinese miners meant that by 1860 one fifth of all adult men in
Victoria were Chinese. -
Workable gold 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 discovered at Coolgardie, WA.
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A valuable gold field discovered in Gympie, Queensland.
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Valuable deposits of very deep gold discovered on the Rand, South Africa. It took
money and machinery to extract this gold. -
Gold discovered at Kalgoorlie, WA.
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Gold discovered in Alaska.
