Australia experienced many social changes as a result of the gold rush, the period between 1851 and 1900. The population exploded, creating the need for houses, buildings, bridges, roads and sewers, as well as the development of transport and further exploration which led to more settlement.
Place of birth
1851
1861
England
172 241
2 530 638
Australia
154 347
322 903
Ireland
89 865
141 989
Scotland
52 377
78 923
Wales
2 326
7 433
Other British colonies
6 934
11 499
China
4 147
37 720
Germany
9 200
15 885
United States of America
3 699
3 621
France
1 480
1 940
Other foreign countries
1 945
10 126
Unspecified
1 901
5 405
Total
500 462
3 168 082
(‘Australians, a historical library’, 1987 Fairfax, Syme & Weldon, Sydney, Vol 10 Ch 1 & 2)
View table in Word (DOCX 118kB)
1. Examine the data in the ‘Country of origin table: Australia’s population in 1851 and 1861’ (Word version (DOCX 118kB)).
Use Microsoft Excel to display the data in a column graph.
Devise and write five questions below the graph for other students to answer.
2. Go to Scribble Maps and create a login. Locate Australia and four countries listed in the ‘Country of origin table’.
Make a presentation (DOCX 110kB) to share with others.
3. Learn about push and pull factors which can influence migration. Use the information to plan (DOCX 116kB) an interview with a digger.
4. Persuade (DOCX 126kB) your family and friends to migrate to Australia. See why human movement (scroll down when link opens) occurred during and after the gold rush.
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1. People began ‘putting down roots’ and schools and other institutions were built, but not always supported by miners (Flash content, written resources can be found here). |
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2. Read about the ‘canvas towns’ in NSW, outside Melbourne and view an image. Melbourne grew rapidly during the 1850s, despite problems in the streets. Compare the images of Collins St in 1839 and between the years 1860 and 1879. Record your observations in a T-chart (DOCX 121kB). |
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3. Write a letter home to family or friends, from the perspective of someone who lived in or around Melbourne. Use a template in Microsoft Word or Google Docs to see how a letter is typically structured. Your teacher can show you some examples of letters written from the Ballarat goldfields. |
