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First Findings of Gold
First official reports of the finding of gold in Australia by J McBrien. The information was suppressed. -
Geologists Find Gold
Geologists P E Strzelecki and Rev W B Clarke find gold near Hartley. -
Transportation of Convicts Stopped
Transportation of convicts to NSW ceased. -
Gold Discovered in California
Gold discovered in California(announced in December 1848). -
California Gold Rush
Californian gold rush.A great many Australians sailed for California. -
Governor Fitzroy
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
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
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
The licence fee in NSW was reduced to 10/- a month after near riots at Turon.Victoria followed suit a few months later. -
Discontent
Discontent with the licensing system and lack of political rights came to a head in the Eureka Stockade.An inquiry followed. -
A Replaced Licence
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
NSW adopted similar changes in licensing and voting in Victoria. -
New Discovery Area
Gold discovered in British Columbia(25 000 prospectors). -
Small Amount of Gold Found
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
An influx of Chinese miners meant that by 1860 one fifth of all adult men in Victoria were Chinese. -
Lambing Flat Riots
Lambing Flat riots,in which whites attacked Chinese miners. -
Workable Gold
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
Gold discovered at Coolgardie,WA. -
A Valuable Gold Field
A valuable gold field discovered in Gympie,Queensland. -
Deep Gold Deposits
Valuable deposits of very deep gold discovered on the Rand,South Africa.It took money and machinery to extract this gold. -
Kalgoorlie Western Australia
Gold discovered in Kalgoorlie Western Australia. -
Alaska
Gold discovered in Alaska.