Economic effects of the gold rush on pastoral industry, population, banking and commerce, mining as an industry, communication, transportation and infrastructure and taxation.~Eleanor Grogan
The pastoral industry began with the arrival of some sheep, cows and goats in 1836 followed by later additions from Tasmania and the eastern colonies. The population began to grow bigger very quickly. It is estimated that between 1851 and 1860, about 500,000 people came to the Australian colonies. Through most of the 100 years, bankers have stood shoulder to shoulder with the commercial community in building the city's greatness.
In Australia, minerals have been part of the continent's culture and development since man's first appearance. The gold rush of the 1850's heralded the growth of Melbourne both as a port and as an economy. Transport became an important issue for the young colony and soon after, Australia's first locomotive-powered railway line was built in Melbourne. In 1854 there were about 25,000 diggers of many nationalities on the Ballarat goldfields. Ballarat and Bendigo had established rail links to Melbourne by1862.
Aboriginal people were also present in many capacities: as Native Police, guides, wives and gold diggers, as well as trading cultural items and food. Women on the gold fields were assisted by Caroline Chisholm.
The Australian Colonies had gradually evolved into more than just a penal settlement. However the Gold Rush heralded an influx of immigrants out to seek their fortune.
It is estimated that between 1851 and 1860, about 500,000 people came to the Australian colonies from Great Britain. Of these 300,000 were from England and Wales, over 101,000 from Ireland and 100,000 from Scotland. At least 42,000 Chinese, and another 5,000 from around the South Pacific mainly New Zealand joined the rush.
People also arrived from North America and Europe, from Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Hungary.
Of these new immigrants, 60% went to the colony of Victoria. In1854, the Ballarat goldfields alone had about 25,000 diggers and supported people of all nationalities, including Aboriginal people. By 1858, the Victorian population peaked at 150,000, of whom over half were British and 40,000 were Chinese.
At a time when Australia was not yet a nation but still a number of separate British colonies, gold was discovered in a number of places, and the gold rush that followed changed our history. In the early days, traces of gold had been found but were hushed by the government, in fear that convicts and settlers would abandon the settlements to seek their fortunes. However, in February 1851, a man named Hargraves found gold near Bathurst, New South Wales, and word quickly spread. Within a week there were over 400 people digging their for gold, and by June there were 2000. They named the goldfield Ophir after a city of gold in the Bible. The Australian gold rush had begun!