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First Official Reports of Finding Gold In Australia
The first official reports of finding gold in Australia were made by J McBrien but the information was kept a secret. -
More Gold Findings In Australia
Geologists P E Strzelecki and Rev W B Clarke managed to find more gold in Australia near Hartley -
Convict Transportation Ceased
Convict transportation to New South Wales ceased. -
California Gold Discovery
Gold was discovered in California (announced in December 1848). -
Californian Gold Rush
The Californian gold rush started and a great number of Australians sailed there to try their luck. -
Governor Fitzroy Gets The Approval For Mining Mineral Resources
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. -
Edward Hargraves Gets The Approval For Mining Mineral Resources
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. -
Australias Population Skyrocketed
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. -
License Fee In NSW Was Reduced
The licence fee in NSW was reduced to 10/- a month after riots at Turon. Victoria followed suit a few months later. -
Discontent With The Licensing System
Discontent with the licensing system and lack of political rights came to a head in the Eureka Stockade. An inquiry followed. -
The 'License' In Victoria Replaced With The '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 Adopted Similar Changes
NSW adopted similar changes in licensing and voting to Victoria. -
Gold Discovered In British Columbia
Gold was discovered in British Columbia (25, 000 prospectors) -
Gold Was Discovered North of Fitzroy 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 penniles diggers had to be helped to return to Victoria or to the inland NSW goldfields. -
Influx Of Chinese Miners
An influx of Chinese miners meant that by 1860 one fifth of all adult men in Victoria were Chinese. -
Period: to
Lambing Flat Riots
White people attacked Chinese miners -
Gold Discovered In New Zealand
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. -
Gold Found In Western Australia
Gold was discovered at Coolgardie in Western Australia -
Valuable Gold Field Discovered In Queensland
A valuable gold field was discovered in Gympie, Queensland -
Very Deep Gold Discovered In South Africa
Valuable deposits of very deep gold discovered on the Rand, South Africa. It took money and machinery to extract this gold. -
More Gold Discovered In Western Australia
Gold found in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia -
Gold Found In Alaska
