CONCERNS OVER POPULATION EXODUS TO THE GOLD FIELDS
Gold was first discovered on the road to Bathurst but was initially kept a secret as the colonial government didn’t want the already sparse population to disperse to the new found gold fields west of the Blue Mountains. Nor did they want convicts escaping to dig holes for themselves in search of the magic glitter.
After all you can’t eat gold.
Having learnt from the Californian Gold Rush when many free settlers crossed the ocean to try their luck in the Americas. The first discoveries of gold were initially kept hidden from the populace to quell any hiccups in the early planning and settlement of the colony.
Mass emigration of the city populace to the gold fields depleted the work forces in the cities, Melbourne in particular saw a lot of men leave for the Ballarat and Bendigo Gold fields.
@kieran.wicks #GoldRushStories #AustralianHistory #VoicesofFederation #OneTownataTime #California #Exodus #Filmmaker #FYP #BritishEmpire #Producer #Gold ♬ original sound - Kieran.Wicks
Latest From California - Adelaide Times Article 1851
- Latest From California - Adelaide Times. (1851). Retrieved from National Library Australia: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207066097
