Gold Rush

First FInd of Gold

Jun 5, 1823

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

Second Find of Gold

Jun 5, 1839

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

Convict Transportation

Jun 5, 1840

Transportation of convicts to NSW ceased.

Gold in California

Jun 5, 1848

Gold discovered in California (announced in December 1848).

Governor Fitzroy

Jun 5, 1849

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

Jun 5, 1849

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

Edward Hargraves

Jun 5, 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 in Victoria, so a reward was offered for the
discovery of gold in that region. Several claimants came forward, and by the end

Oversea Prospectors

Jun 5, 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.

Gold License Fee

Jun 5, 1853

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

Eureka Stockade

Jun 5, 1854

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

Miner's Right

Jun 5, 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.

Gold in Great Britain

Jun 5, 1856

Gold discovered in British Columbia (25 000 prospectors).

Miner's Right in N.S.W.

Jun 5, 1857

NSW adopted similar changes in licensing and voting to Victoria.

Fitzroy River

Jun 5, 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 5, 1860

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

Lambing Flats Riot

Jun 5, 1860

Lambing Flat riots, in which whites attacked Chinese miners.

More Gold Discoveries

Jun 5, 1861

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

Jun 5, 1864

Gold discovered at Coolgardie, WA.

Gold in Africa

Jun 5, 1866

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

Gympie

Jun 5, 1867

A valuable gold field discovered in Gympie, Queensland.

Kalgoorlie

Jun 5, 1893

Gold discovered at Kalgoorlie, WA.

Alaska

Jun 5, 1896

Gold discovered in Alaska.