Gold Rush Basics
In what year did the Australian gold rush begin?
1851
What kind of homes did most miners live in on the goldfields?
Tents
Who is the man credited with discovering gold in Australia?
Edward Hargraves
What is a “nugget”?
A lump of gold
How did gold change Australia’s population?
It grew very quickly
What is the name of the Australian state where the gold rush started?
New South Wales
What did miners need to pay to dig for gold?
A mining licence
Who were the Eureka rebels protesting against?
The colonial government / troopers collecting licence fees
What is a “claim” on the goldfields?
A piece of land a miner marked as their own to dig for gold
What types of people came to Australia during the gold rush?
People from all over the world (e.g. China, USA, UK, Europe)
What was the first town where gold was officially found?
Bathurst
What were some problems miners faced every day?
Hard work, heat, cold, disease, lack of food or clean water
What was the Eureka Stockade?
A battle between miners and the government in 1854
What is a “sluice box” used for?
Separating gold from dirt using water
What city grew rapidly because of the gold rush?
Melbourne
What method did miners use to find gold in rivers and streams?
Panning
What types of food did miners usually eat?
Damper, mutton, tea, sometimes tinned food
What did the miners want instead of a licence system?
The right to vote and fair treatment
What does “alluvial gold” mean?
Gold found in riverbeds or soil, not deep underground
How did the gold rush help Australia's economy?
More money, jobs, trade, and business opportunities
What does the word “rush” in “gold rush” actually mean?
A sudden movement of people to a place hoping to find gold quickly
Why were Chinese miners sometimes treated unfairly?
Because of racism, different customs, and jealousy over their success
What important change happened after the Eureka Stockade?
Miners were given the right to vote and the licence system changed
What was a “Gold Commissioner”?
A government official who managed licences and order on the goldfields
What are two lasting impacts of the gold rush on Australia today?
Multicultural population and democratic rights