The Australian Gold Rush
Ethan
Gold!
In February 1851 a man named Edward Hargraves found gold in near Bathurst. Gold is a precious yellow metal that never rusts and can be found inside the Earth. Small rough 'balls' of gold are given the name 'nuggets'.
Alluvial gold (gold on the surface) quickly ran out, causing over 3,000 people to leave to go back to there countries.
People had to purchase licences (which cost 30 shillings!) to mine for gold. These licences lasted for a month. This was because the land belonged to Queen Victoria. This angered people, making them form the "Eureka Stockade". They burned their licences, danced around a fire and celebrated till early in the morning.
Alluvial gold (gold on the surface) quickly ran out, causing over 3,000 people to leave to go back to there countries.
People had to purchase licences (which cost 30 shillings!) to mine for gold. These licences lasted for a month. This was because the land belonged to Queen Victoria. This angered people, making them form the "Eureka Stockade". They burned their licences, danced around a fire and celebrated till early in the morning.
Life on the Gold Fields
Life on the Gold Fields
Lots of people left their homes to find gold only to get exhausted, tired, hurt and (perhaps) killed from the harsh weather and lack of water. People carried all their belongings and shoes. There were no roads to follow and no shops to buy supplies and no houses to live in. This was all because word leaked out around the world about gold findings. Life was harsh on the gold fields.
People began to build huts from wood and sticks and make trenches and fires out the front. This Was So They Could Keep There Gold Safe From Smugglers And Floods. A lot of people got hurt and were bleeding from mining 24 hours a day. It let them tired and weak, making them give up mining.