The Australian Gold Rush

In 1851, a prospector by the name of Edward Hammond Hargraves proclaimed that he had discovered gold on a site he called “Ophir” in Bathurst, New South Wales Australia. Six months later, more gold was found in Australia, and the Australian Gold Rush began, rising its population from 400,000 to over 1,000,000 over the course of the next 50 years.

With Australian road conditions poor in the late 1800’s by the mines, most miners would travel on foot with equipment on their backs to the mines. These travels were at times difficult, however the rewards of the gold rush were extreme.

When the word “gold rush” is used, many tend to think of the gold rush of California and the Wild West. But the Australian Gold Rush has remained throughout history as the wealthiest of all gold findings. The World’s largest gold nugget to ever be unearthed was discovered during the Australian Gold Rushes, by Bernhard Otto Holterman. The weight of the nugget was a groundbreaking 630 pounds.