GoldRush

Australian Gold Rush & Timeline

The Australian gold rushes started in 1851 when prospector Edward Hammond Hargraves claimed the discovery of payable gold near Bathurst, New South Wales, at a site Edward Hargraves called Ophir. Six months later, gold was found in Victoria at Warrandyte and Ballarat, and a short time later at Bendigo Creek. Gold was later found in all of the other Australian states.

The first major mineral discovery - gold - was a watershed (a turning point or landmark) for Australian society. The initial stages of the gold rush were responsible for tremendous changes in the community, bringing Australia's first great waves of immigration from countries other than England and Ireland.

Gold Rush Timeline

The 1840s

Early gold discoveries were greeted with fear. Members of the governing class were afraid that the news of gold discoveries would encourage convicts and free settlers to abandon the cities and newly established townships in their search for gold.

1840

William Campbell finds gold on his sheep run in Strathlodden, Victoria, in 1840.

1844

Clergyman and amateur geologist William Branwhite Clarke discovers traces of gold at Hassan's Wells, near Lithgow. When presented with these new discoveries, Governor George Gipps responds, 'Put it away, Mr Clarke, or we shall all have our throats cut.'

Governor George Gipps moves to suppress all reports of gold discoveries in New South Wales.

The 1850s

The 1850s saw the beginnings of the great Australian 'gold rush'. Large gold deposits were discovered in various parts of Australia, particularly in the eastern States. A significant development at this time was the establishment of the Sydney Mint. This was the first Royal Mint to be established outside of England. Between 1851 and 1861, Australia produced one third of the world's gold.

1851

First payable gold discovered at Ophir in NSW - beginning of the great Australian gold rush

1854

Gold miners rebel at Eureka in Victoria, in protest at the conditions imposed by the 'Miner's Licence'. The rebellion led to the abolition of the Miner's Licence.

1855

British Secretary of State gives permission for the establishment of the Sydney Mint. This was the first Royal Mint to be established outside of England.

The 1860s

One memorable find during this decade was the Welcome Stranger nugget, by Richard Oates and John Deason in Moliagul, Victoria.

1866

Gold discovered in Queensland, at Rockhampton.

1869

'Welcome Stranger' nugget discovered by John Deason and Richard Oates in Moliagul, Victoria. It is the world's largest nugget found to date.

The 1870s

The 1870s saw the discoveries of gold in South Australia and Queensland. Interest in these colonies intensified as people started moving to the scenes of gold discoveries in the hopes of striking it rich.

1870

Rich gold deposits found in North Queensland.
First gold discovered in SA at Birdwood.

1872

World's largest piece of gold-bearing material, the Holtermann Nugget (a mixture of slate and gold weighing 235 kg) found by William Holtermann at Hill End NSW.

The 1880s

The 1880s were a boom time for Western Australia. In 1862 the Western Australian Government had offered £5000 to anyone who could find payable gold deposits. As a result, gold was found in large deposits in several parts of the State. These discoveries led to greater prosperity for many and brought economic stability to the State.

1885

First WA gold discoveries at Halls Creek. Triggers gold rush in WA.

1887

Large amounts of gold found at the Murchison goldfield, WA.

The 1890s

With the discovery of major gold deposits in WA, moves were made towards combining the colonies into one nation. Prior to the discoveries, the government of WA had been reluctant to join the other colonies as they felt they would have little influence on any decisions made by a Federal Government. With the new found wealth that the gold brought, they decided to become part of the Commonwealth.

1892

Bayley and Ford discover large gold deposits at Coolgardie in WA.

1893

Hannan's discovery at Kalgoorlie, the last and most important early goldfield.

1899

The Perth Mint established to profit from Australia's richest goldfield at Kalgoorlie.