Women & Children on the Goldfields
By Meryana 5T
Introduction
In 1854 there were approxmately 400 women on the goldfields in Ballarat compared to about 12500 men. Most of these women were married.
roles and reponsibilities of Women
1. cooking
2. singing and dancing for diggers
3. some women were diggers
4. shopkeepers
5. caring for children
6. making bread, butter and jam
Children and Education
Children moved schools a lot. Parents kept moving to find richer goldfields. Often there was no school built. Schools were made from tents when first built. The roof was made from a canvas material.
Health
On the goldfields many children died because of the foul muddy water they had to drink. Conditions were poor. Cemeteries were set up to bury the dead. Many people died because injections were not available.