Gold Fever

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New South Wales.

Victoria.

Getting There.

[Rush to Riches][Gold 150][UOB Page]

Gold Fever - New South Wales

News of the Hargraves discovery spread rapidly, and people began to rush to the Ophir district in the hope of finding gold and a more prosperous life. In these early months, most of the supplies and equipment had to be brought in with the diggers who carried swags, pushed wheelbarrows or rode horses along the rough bush tracks that were the only routes to the early fields. Tent cities sprang up around the creeks and rivers of the Ophir area as the population swelled with the influx of diggers.

THOMAS TYRWHIT BALCOMBE. Sketches of Ophir Diggings, 1850 - 1852. Pencil
(State Library of N.S.W. ML SV1B/Ophi/5-6, 8-9)

S.T. Gill. The Claim Disputed. Hand coloured lithiograph.
Gold Museum, Sir Henry Bolte Trust Acquisition Fund, 96.0115.20.
S.T. Gill. The Wayfaring Diggers.
Gold , Henry Bolte Trust Acquisition Fund, 96.0115.5.

[Gold Fever][Rush to Riches][Gold 150][UOB Page]

Gold Fever - Victoria

Encouraged by the gold fever in New South Wales and concerned by the decline in population, the Victorian Government established a Gold Discovery Committee which offered a reward to anyone who could find payable gold within 200 miles (320 kms) of Melbourne. In June, 1851, James Esmond found gold at Clunes. This was shortly followed by finds at Andersons' Creek, Buninyong and Ballarat. By December, rich fields had also developed at Bendigo, Castlemaine and McIvor.

The reward of ú200 was distributed eventually amongst several discoverers including Hargraves and Rev. W.B. Clarke.

SAMUEL PROUT-HILL. Adelaide Flat Forrest Creek, 1852. Watercolour.
(State Library of New South Wales ML DG SV 28/9)
S.T. Gill. Bendigo Creek from Main Road to Eagle Hawk Gully, 1852.
Gold Museum, Sir Henry Bolte Trust Acquisition Fund, 96.0115.9.
S.T. Gill. Iron Bark Gully, Bendigo Diggers.
Gold Museum, Sir Henry Bolte Trust Acquisition Fund, 96.0115.15.
S.T. Gill. Eagle Hawk Gully from left of road to Bendigo.
Gold Museum, Sir Henry Bolte Trust Acquisition Fund, 96.0115.13.

[Gold Fever][Rush to Riches][Gold 150][UOB Page]

Gold Fever - Getting There

News of incredible gold discoveries spread quickly and many deserted their positions to join the rush. By 1852, immigrants from Europe and from the disappointing Californian rushes swelled the numbers trudging the rough tracks to the diggings. Stories of new finds saw mass migration from one field to another. Ballarat boasted 10,000 diggers in early December 1851. This number plummeted to 150 by the yearÆs end but was reinstated during 1852.

The sea voyage was long and treacherous often taking three or four months. The roads were little more than tracks and diggers carried their supplies in swags, wheelbarrows and on horseback. Diggers from all over the world mingled on the roads and towns of the Australian goldfields.

Link to Clipper Card Exhibition.
E.GILKS. The diggers improved road guide to the mines of Victoria, c.1852 - 1854.
(State Library of New South Wales ML A127, pp.3-4)
S.T. Gill. Road in Black Forest, 1852.
Gold Museum, Sir Henry Bolte Trust Acquisition Fund, 96.0115.18.
S.T. Gill. Road to Bendigo from Forest Creek.
Gold Museum, Sir Henry Bolte Trust Acquisition Fund, 96.0115.7.
S.T. Gill. The Newly Arrived Inquiring.
Gold Museum, Sir Henry Bolte Trust Acquisition Fund, 96.0115.22.


[Gold Fever][Rush to Riches][Gold 150][UOB Page]

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