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First offical reports on gold
First offical reports of the finding of gold in Australia by James McBrien. The information was suppressed. -
Second offical finding of gold
Geologists P E Strzelecki and Rev W B Clarke find gold near Hartley. -
Transportation of convicts
Transportation of convicts to NSW ceased. -
Gold findings in Calinfornia
Gold discovered in California (announced in December 1848). -
Californian gold rush
Californian gold rush. A great many Australians sailed for California. -
The policy for mining
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. -
Edward Hargraves
[Edward Hargraves](http:/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h53d63lQHrk/)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. Several claimants came forward, and by the end of 1851 the incredibly rich Ballarat and Bendigo fields. -
Population boost
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. -
Introduction of the license fee
The licence fee in NSW was reduced to 10/- a month after near riots at Turon. Victoria followed suit a few months later. -
The Eureka Stockade
eureka stockadeDiscontent with the licensing system and lack of political rights came to a head in the Eureka Stockade. An inquiry followed. -
Miner's right
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 changestheir Ways of voting
NSW adopted similar changes in licensing and voting to Victoria. -
Bristish Columbian gold findings
Gold discovered in British Columbia (25 000 prospectors). -
Gold in Fitzory 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. -
Chinese in Victoria
An influx of Chinese miners meant that by 1860 one fifth of all adult men in Victoria were Chinese. -
Riot with Chinese
Lambing Flat riots, in which whites attacked Chinese miners. -
People Found Gold 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. -
Coolgardie strikes gold
Gold discovered at Coolgardie, WA. -
Goldfield in Lucky Gympie
A valuable gold field discovered in Gympie, Queensland. -
South African Gold
Valuable deposits of very deep gold discovered on the Rand, South Africa. It took money and machinery to extract this gold. -
Western Australia first Strikes Gold in Kalgoorlie
Gold discovered at Kalgoorlie, WA. -
Gold discovered in Alaska and History of economy
Gold discovered in Alaska
In Victoria in 1852,the rough average value of gold found by diggers was an 324 oz per head. By 1865 it has fallen 181 oz. In 1856, there were 115 000 prospectors and 80 000 in 1865.Of the Australians who went to the goldfields many hoped to own a farm or a business. Many found employment with the mining companies, operating quartz-crushing machines or working on steam power genereation. Others returned home or moved to other fields in Australia,New Zealand or America.
