When?

Source: [] In 1823 James McBrien found traces of gold near Bathurst, NSW. However, early discoveries of gold in Australia were hushed up by the authorities for fear that all the convicts, soldiers and public servants would stop work to hunt for their fortune.
 * When was gold first found? **

In 1841, the Rev. WB Clarke found a gold nugget near Cox's River in the Blue Mountains, NSW. When he showed the gold to Governor Gipps, the Governor said, 'Put it away, Mr Clarke or we shall all have our throats cut!'

It wasn't until ten years later, in 1851, that Edward Hargraves, (who had just returned from the gold fields in California) and his colleagues found gold near Bathurst. This time the find was publicised and within a month a thousand men were looking for gold. The area was called Ophir, after the biblical story about King Solomon's gold city.

Source: [] = = =Australian gold rush timeline = 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. Ambitious prospectors from Asia, Europe and America made the trek to the goldfields of Ballarat and Bendigo in Victoria, and Bathurst in New South Wales, in the hope of striking it rich. This influx of people brought many social changes, including an increase in racial tensions with the persecution of some groups, notably the Chinese. ** 1823 **  · Government Surveyor James McBrien discovers traces of gold in the Fish River, east of Bathurst. ** 1839 **  · Explorer and geologist Paul de Strzelecki discovers small amounts of gold in silicate near Hartley in the Blue Mountains. On hearing of the find, New South Wales Governor George Gipps officially requests that no mentions are made of it in de Strzelecki's reports.

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
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">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. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">** 1851 ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · First payable gold discovered at Ophir in NSW - beginning of the great Australian gold rush <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">** 1854 ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · 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. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">** 1855 ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · 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.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 7.5pt 0cm;">The 1860s
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">One memorable find during this decade was the Welcome Stranger nugget, by Richard Oates and John Deason in Moliagul, Victoria. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">** 1866 ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · Gold discovered in Queensland, at Rockhampton. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">** 1869 ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · 'Welcome Stranger' nugget discovered by John Deason and Richard Oates in Moliagul, Victoria. It is the world's largest nugget found to date.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 7.5pt 0cm;">The 1870s
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">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. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">** 1870 ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · Rich gold deposits found in North Queensland. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · First gold discovered in SA at Birdwood. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">** 1872 ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · 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.

=<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;">The 1880s = <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">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. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">** 1885 ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · First WA gold discoveries at Halls Creek. Triggers gold rush in WA. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">** 1887 ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · Large amounts of gold found at the Murchison goldfield, WA.

=<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;">The 1890s = <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">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. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">** 1892 ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · Bayley and Ford discover large gold deposits at Coolgardie in WA. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">** 1893 ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · Hannan's discovery at Kalgoorlie, the last and most important early goldfield. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">** 1899 ** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin-left: 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;"> · The Perth Mint established to profit from Australia's richest goldfield at Kalgoorlie.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Source: []

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm; text-align: center;">The first goldfields
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">The first goldfields were alluvial or surface goldfields, where the gold could be washed or winnowed from the soil. The life of these goldfields was short. In Victoria in 1852, it was estimated that the value of gold found by diggers was an average of 324 oz per head. By 1856 it had fallen to 103 oz and it further declined to 78 oz in 1865. In Victoria in 1856, there were 115 000 prospectors (or alluvial diggers.) By 1865, the number had declined to 80 000. Of the Australians who went to the goldfields, many had hoped to gain a stake to establish a farm or a business. Many found employment with the mining companies, operating quartz-crushing machines or working on steam power generation. Others returned home or moved to other fields in Australia, New Zealand or America.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1823
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">First official reports of the finding of gold in Australia by J McBrien. The information was suppressed.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1839
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Geologists P E Strzelecki and Rev W B Clarke find gold near Hartley.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1840
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Transportation of convicts to NSW ceased.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1848
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Gold discovered in California (announced in December 1848).

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1849
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Californian gold rush. A great many Australians sailed for California.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1849
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Governor Fitzroy approached the Colonial Office, advocating a policy for the exploitation of mineral resources. He requested a geologist, which led to the appointment of Samuel Stutchbury. This gave approval for the mining of mineral resources.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1851
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Edward Hargraves returned from California and washed gold at Summer Hill Creek, Ophir. Although he showed little skill in discovering new fields, he received recognition and financial rewards. The early rush to the NSW fields led to a serious decline in the population in Victoria, so a reward was offered for the discovery of gold in that region. Several claimants came forward, and by the end of 1851 the incredibly rich Ballarat and Bendigo fields were in production. Licence fees of 30/- a month were imposed.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1852
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Prospectors started arriving from overseas. Approximately 100 000 arrived in 1852. Ships' 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. Small gold deposits were discovered in New Zealand.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1853
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">The licence fee in NSW was reduced to 10/- a month after near riots at Turon. Victoria followed suit a few months later.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1854
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Discontent with the licensing system and lack of political rights came to a head in the Eureka Stockade. An inquiry followed.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1855
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">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.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1857
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">NSW adopted similar changes in licensing and voting to Victoria.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1858
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Gold discovered in British Columbia (25 000 prospectors).

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1858
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">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 penniless diggers had to be helped to return to Victoria or to the inland NSW goldfields.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1860
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">An influx of Chinese miners meant that by 1860 one fifth of all adult men in Victoria were Chinese.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1860-1861
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Lambing Flat riots, in which whites attacked Chinese miners.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1861
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Workable gold discovered in New Zealand. Between 1861 and 1863, 64 000 people travelled to Otago from Australia, while only 8600 arrived from Britain.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1864
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Gold discovered at Coolgardie, WA.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1867
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">A valuable gold field discovered in Gympie, Queensland.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1886
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Valuable deposits of very deep gold discovered on the Rand, South Africa. It took money and machinery to extract this gold.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1893
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">Gold discovered at Kalgoorlie, WA.

<span style="border: medium none; color: #b30300; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; margin: 0cm 0cm 4.5pt; padding: 0cm;">1896
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Gold discovered in Alaska.