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BTN - Gold Rush
Who, When, Where and Why?
How did the Australian gold rush begin in 1851? Who kicked it off? Where did it occur, and why is gold so valuable?
Join Ronan, an Irish digger come to try his hand at striking rich, as he explores the beginning of gold fever in Australia including the role of Edward Hargraves, the countries from which hopeful miners rushed, and the various roles played by Aboriginal Australians during the period.
Life on the Goldfields
Long Term Impacts
The gold rush began just over 60 years after Europeans arrived to Australia, but how did this decade transform the cultural, political, environmental, and economic threads of the nation?
A Short History of the Australian Gold Rush Era
Britannica - Australian Gold Rushes
- Britannica - Australian Gold Rushes
The discovery of gold in New South Wales in 1851 began a series of gold rushes in colonial Australia. These gold rushes transformed Australia’s population and society. Miners from all over the world left their homes and tried to strike it rich on the Australian goldfields. Most were unlucky, but they all helped shape a defining era of Australian history.
National Museum of Australia - The Discovery of Gold
- National Museum of Australia - The Discovery of Gold
Imagine that…
Gold was suddenly discovered in a huge park in your area today. Gold is a valuable metal. It can make people rich. All you have to do is go to an area, start searching, dig deep holes in the ground (that might take many months) to find it. What might happen?
The Discovery of Gold
- The Discovery of Gold
When gold was discovered in Australia in the 1850s it brought gold-seekers from around the world to the colonies. The first big discoveries of gold were at Ophir in New South Wales, and then at Ballarat and Bendigo Creek in Victoria. The gold rushes led to growth in Australia’s population and economy, as well as new ideas about how Australia should be organised and governed.
Western Australia - Gold Rush
- Western Australia - Gold Rush
The gold rushes of the 1890s were to change the face and the fortunes of Western Australia. Until that time, the State's tiny European population struggled to survive.
History of Gold Mining
- History of Gold MiningVictoria is a world-renowned gold province and our history is closely connected to gold mining.
Gold discovery at Ballarat in 1851 sparked Victoria's famous gold rush. An estimated 6000 diggers (miners) arrived each week seeking their fortune.
Ballarat was considered the world's richest alluvial goldfield during its peak between 1852 and 1853.
National Geographic - Australian Gold Rush Begins
- National Geographic - Australian Gold Rush BeginsOne of the biggest gold rushes in history was started in New South Wales, Australia, in 1851. Hundreds of thousands of "diggers" from other parts of Australia, Great Britain, Poland, Germany, and even California sought their fortunes and redefined Australia's national identity.
Eureka - The Rush for Gold - The State Library of NSW
- Eureka - The Rush for Gold - The State Library of NSWThe gold rushes and the diggers who worked the goldfields are etched into Australian folklore. Follow the story of the people who sought the glittering prize...
MIner's Camp Primary Source
- Mining Camp | State Library of NSWCarefully examine the source and identify the following:
* mine shafts (2)
* men with shovels
* gold washing cradle
* ordinary miners' tents
* the Gold Commissioner's tent - how do you know?
Gold Rush in Australia
- Gold Rush in AustraliaAt a time when Australia was not yet a nation but still a number of separate British colonies, gold was discovered in a number of places, and the gold rush that followed changed our history.
The Discovery of Gold
- The Discovery of GoldGold was discovered in Australia in 1851 – first in New South Wales and then in Victoria.
The effect of the discoveries was electrifying. Here at last was a chance for independence from a life of wage-labour. A chance, with real luck, to make a fortune most could only dream of.
All over Australia men downed tools and left for the goldfields. Australia’s first gold rush had begun!
Kids News - Gold Rush Begins
- Kids News - Gold Rush BeginsHISTORY OF THE GOLD RUSH: The government held back a Gold Rush for years, but once the secret was out, unimaginable wealth came out of the ground, changing Australia forever
Woman of the Goldfields - Woman on the Hill
- Woman of the Goldfields - Woman on the HillImagine if you could go back in time and experience what life was like in the 1850s!
Watch this clip to discover what Sovereign Hill volunteer Jenni Fithall learnt when, for three days, she lived as an 1850s woman at Sovereign Hill.
