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The first official reports of finding gold in Australia were made by J McBrien but the information was kept a secret.
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Geologists P E Strzelecki and Rev W B Clarke managed to find more gold in Australia near Hartley
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Convict transportation to New South Wales ceased.
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Gold was discovered in California (announced in December 1848).
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The Californian gold rush started and a great number of Australians sailed there to try their luck.
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Governor Fitzroy approached the Colonial Office advocating a policy for the exploitation of mineral resource. He requested a geologist so the appointment of Samuel Stutchbury was made. The approval for mining the mineral of resources was therefore given.
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Edward Hargraves returned from California and washed gold at Summer Hill Creek, Ophir. Even though he showed little skill in discovering new fields he still received recognition and financial rewards. The rus to the NSW fields led to a decline of population in Victoria so a reward was offered for the discovery of gold in that area. Many people came forward so Edward requested a geologist, which led to the appointment of Samuel Stutchbury. This gave approval for the mining of mineral resources.
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Prospectors started arriving from overseas. Approximately 100 000 arrived in 1852. Ship's 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. Only small gold deposits were discovered in New Zealand.
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The licence fee in NSW was reduced to 10/- a month after riots at Turon. Victoria followed suit a few months later.
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Discontent with the licensing system and lack of political rights came to a head in the Eureka Stockade. An inquiry followed.
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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.
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NSW adopted similar changes in licensing and voting to Victoria.
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Gold was discovered in British Columbia (25, 000 prospectors)
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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 penniles diggers had to be helped to return to Victoria or to the inland NSW goldfields.
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An influx of Chinese miners meant that by 1860 one fifth of all adult men in Victoria were Chinese.
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White people attacked Chinese miners
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Workable gold was discovered in New Zealand. Between 1861 and 1863, 64 000 people travelled to Otago from Australia while only 8600 arrived from Britain.
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Gold was discovered at Coolgardie in Western Australia
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A valuable gold field was discovered in Gympie, Queensland
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Valuable deposits of very deep gold discovered on the Rand, South Africa. It took money and machinery to extract this gold.
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Gold found in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
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