When a man called Edward Hargraves first discovered gold in Australia, in 1851, the impact on the country was immeasurable. Word of Hargraves’ good fortune caused thousands of individuals to flood New South Wales and join the rush. Men left their families, professionals quit their jobs, ships were abandoned in the ports, as gold-fever spread through the country. Within two decades, Australia’s population had quadrupled.

But what fortunes awaited those hopeful individuals who chased the allure of gold? What were conditions like on the gold-farms and fields? How did the rush impact Australia’s First Nations People? And in what ways did it shape the country?

This is a Short History Of The Australian Gold Rush. Written by Nicole Edmunds. With thanks to Mikhala Harkins-Foster, a curator for the National Museum of Australia.

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