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The first discovery of gold in Australia
The first discovery of gold in Australia Government Surveyor James McBrien discovers traces of gold in the Fish River, east of
Bathurst. -
Fears of yellow fever
Explorer and geologist Paul de Strzelecki discovers small amounts of gold in silicate near
Hartley in the Blue Mountains, in 1839. When New South Wales Governor George Gipps hears
of the find, he officially requests that no mentions be made of it in fear of the gold discoveries
encouraging convicts and free settlers to abandon the cities and newly established townships
in their search for gold. -
GOLD RUSH HITS VICTORIA!
William Campbell finds gold on his sheep run in Strathlodden, Victoria, in 1840 -
Fears continue
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.' -
NO MORE GOLD!
Governor George Gipps moves to suppress all reports of gold discoveries in New South Wales. -
The beginning
First payable gold discovered at Ophir in NSW - beginning of the great Australian gold rush. -
The Eureka stockade
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. This was known as the
Eureaka Stockade, and the actual battle lasted a suprisingly short 20 minutes! -
Our new currency
In 1855, British Secretary of State gave permission to open the Sydney Mint, because Australia
wanted to turn their gold into currency, not ship it all the way back to England.. The Sydney
Mint is now still standing and open to public for visits. This was the first Royal Mint to operate
out of England. -
Eureka! Gold is found in queensland
Gold discovered in Queensland, at Rockhampton. -
The Welcome stranger Nugget
The largest pure gold nugget known to date in Australia is the Welcome Stranger. It was found
on the 5th of February 1869, approximately 15 kilometres to the northwest of Dunolly, near a
mining town called Moliagul in Victoria. The finder, John Deason, and a companion Richard
Oates located the nugget 3 centimetres below the surface within the roots of a stringybark tree.
The nugget weighed about 72 kg and at the time of discovery was the largest known gold
nugget in the world! -
More Gold?!?
Rich gold deposits found in North Queensland. First gold discovered in SA at Birdwood. 1872 -
The largest matrix nugget ever!
The Beyers and Holtermann gold nugget in the largest matrix nugget to be found, meaning it
was found mixed in with other minerals. It was found at 2 a.m. on 19th October, 1872, in the
Star of Hope Mine, on the side of Hawkins Hill, Hill End. The gold specimen weighed to be a
whopping 286 kg and measuring to 1.6 metres tall! Sadly, the miners broke it up underground,
leaving us with only a photo of it! -
The 1880's
The 1880s were a boom time for Western Australia. In 1862 the Western Australian
Government had offered £5000 to anyone who could find payable gold deposits. As a result,
gold was found in large deposits in several parts of the State. These discoveries led to greater
prosperity for many and brought economic stability to the State. -
Western australia expands gold rush
First WA gold discoveries at Halls Creek. Triggers gold rush in WA. Large amounts of gold
found at the Murchison goldfield, WA. -
The 1890's
With the discovery of major gold deposits in WA, moves were made towards combining the
colonies into one nation. Prior to the discoveries, the government of WA had been reluctant to
join the other colonies as they felt they would have little influence on any decisions made by
Federal Government. With the new found wealth that the gold brought, they decided to
become part of the Commonwealth. -
Endless Gold?!!?
Bayley and Ford discover large gold deposits at Coolgardie in WA. -
A New mint
The Perth Mint established to profit from Australia's richest goldfield at Kalgoorlie.
