Australian History: Gold
Many people believe that in 1851 Edward Hargraves was the first person to discover gold. This isn't true. Before 1851 gold had been found by convicts, shepherds, a clergyman and a Polish explorer. Hundreds more people probably found gold but did not bother telling others about it.
Before the Goldrush - It may seem strange that some people could discover gold without others going to the area and trying to find it as well. But before 1851 this is exactly what happened in Australia.
Gold Rush - After a long trek on foot or horseback by coach or dray from Sydney or Melbourne, new miners were thankful and excited when they reached the goldfields. On the larger fields they saw hundreds or even thousands of tents clustered around creeks or near the site of earlier discoveries.
Finding Gold - There are two main types of gold. Alluvail gold is the gold found as small flakes, nuggets or dust. Buried gold is found beneath the earth's surface.
Life in the Goldfields - Most diggers worked from dawn to dusk, six days a week. Sometimes they were lucky and had a good strike. Often they found very little at all. Perhaps they made as much as the workers left in town, perhaps a little more or a little less.
Edward Hargraves - Edward Hammond Hargraves (October 7, 1816–1891) was 34 years old when he discovered gold at Bathurst. He was born in Hargraves was born at Gosport, Hampshire, England and was known to have worked in many jobs such as a sailor, a farmer a hotel manager and a shipping agent.
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