NSW Department of Education, Sites2See

Gold

Image text: The Eureka Flag was originally flown during the Eureka Rebellion of 1854 on the goldfields of Ballarat. Link to Eureka Stockade at State Library of Victoria. Description: Dark blue background with a cross that has a star at each extremity and one at the cross section of the two axes.1

Precious gold

Ever wondered why gold is such a valuable 2commodity? Find out by discovering some facts about gold 3and how it is used4.

Learn about Australia's Golden History5 and then read about the biggest gold nuggets found in Australia 6.

Gold nugget, linked to History Hill website6

Inland exploration and expansion

Bathurst or bust

Learn about the history and locations behind the gold heritage of NSW 7.




The discovery of gold

Image from Australian Screeen clip 'Peache's Gold - Eureka' linked to website8

Why were early discoveries kept secret9? Read about Edward Hargraves’s 10quest and see how gold fever 11spread through Victoria in 1851.

The impact of gold fever

Gold! logo linked to SBS website12

See how gold discovery affected Australia’s environment12. Discover how Melbourne 13expanded with the gold rush.

Life on the goldfields

Compare myth and reality14 of the goldfields. Share hope-filled journeys15 to the fields, the harsh life 16 and the challenges17 miners faced. See how women 18fared, how Chinese miners19 were treated and the effects of the gold rush on Aboriginal 20peoples. View miners’ tools and techniques21. Read about crime22 on the goldfields.

See how the actions of the Traps23 contributed to the unrest 24 and rebellion at the Eureka Stockade in 185425.

A goldfields scene linked to a larger view

View a scene at the goldfields.

For teachers. Links to relevant section of the K-10 History syllabus26

Gold rush game logo linket to the game website17

Play the National Museum of Australia's game Can you strike it rich during the Gold Rush?17 You will need to make decisions about the different situations faced by the people who went to strike it rich.

Gold coin

Links

  1. http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explore-history/golden-victoria/impact-society/eureka-stockade
  2. http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s3012467.htm
  3. http://www.oresomeresources.com/resource/gold-fact-sheet/
  4. http://geology.com/minerals/gold/uses-of-gold.shtml
  5. https://www.historyhill.com.au/australias-golden-history/
  6. https://www.historyhill.com.au/the-biggest-and-the-best/
  7. https://www.goldtrails.com.au/gold-heritage/
  8. http://aso.gov.au/titles/tv/peachs-gold-eureka/clip1/
  9. http://www.sbs.com.au/gold/story.php?storyid=25
  10. https://www.sbs.com.au/gold/story.php?storyid=32
  11. http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/eureka-rush-gold/rush-victoria
  12. http://www.sbs.com.au/gold/story.php?storyid=124
  13. http://museumvictoria.com.au/marvellous/gold/index.asp
  14. http://www.sbs.com.au/gold/story.php?storyid=20
  15. http://www.egold.net.au/biogs/EG00014b.htm
  16. http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/109917/life-on-the-goldfields-living-there.pdf
  17. http://www.nma.gov.au/av/goldrush/index.html
  18. http://education.abc.net.au/home#!/media/2872564/woman-of-the-hill
  19. http://education.abc.net.au/home#!/media/522079/chinese-miners-in-pine-creek-nt
  20. http://www.goldrushcolony.com.au/australian-gold-history-culture-info/indigenous-australian-aboriginal-and-koorie-culture/koorie-cul-0
  21. https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search?node=srv#/metadata/a05f7892-740a-7506-e044-00144fdd4fa6
  22. http://www.sbs.com.au/gold/story.php?storyid=79
  23. http://aso.gov.au/titles/tv/peachs-gold-eureka/clip2/
  24. http://www.nma.gov.au/kspace/teachers/goldfields/learning/unrest
  25. http://education.abc.net.au/home#!/media/2153105/eureka-stockade
  26. http://syllabus.nesa.nsw.edu.au/hsie/history-k10/content/804/
  27. http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/holtermann-collection
  28. https://www.prov.vic.gov.au/eureka-education-resources
  29. https://www.historyhill.com.au/gold-rush-terminology/