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Different nationalities
There were many people on the goldfields, most of which were from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, America, China and Germany. There were also Aboriginals, who wanted to try their luck on the fields and convicts that had been set free before the gold rush. Others were free settlers that had come before the discovery of gold. Once at the goldfields, the camps where the people lived were set up into all of the different countries there were and you would rarely cross between them. The countries worked together to find gold and didn't interact with anyone else. Travelling To get to Australia, you had to travel by boat, which took on average around 6 months. On a good ride, where you were following the trade routes, you were lucky to take just 3 months, but on other occasions, it could take 8 months. The ride was uncomfortable, as they were crammed into small wooden bunks and the food was very basic, rarely getting fresh fruit and vegetables. Irish Many of the Irish left their home, because of the potato famine which struck Ireland in 1845 to 1852. Between 1851 and 1860 roughly 101, 540 migrated to Australia to try their luck at the goldfields. Chinese In 1853, there were around 2,000 Chinese on the goldfields, whereas 4 years later in 1857, there were 7, 542. All of the Chinese were young men, sponsored by a businessman back in China from their village. When gold was found, it was sent back to the sponsor in China. The Chinese were finding so much gold, that they had to pay an extra £10, as well as their travelling fee of £10 too. So to avoid the extra fee, the ships carrying the Chinese dropped them off at a place called Robe in South Australia. They would then walk from Robe to the goldfields. At the goldfields, there were three villages for the Chinese; Golden Point, Eureka and Clayton's Hill. Democracy on the goldfields When people migrated to Australia to search for gold in the goldfields, they bought their understandings of what chartism is. These values were that all people had the right to vote in parliament, no matter their class. This was the start of the Ballarat Reform League's beliefs and what they formed their rebellion upon. The majority of the miners on the goldfields were poorer people, so there wasn't a class distinction. It was just the people who were mining and the governor, meaning the whole population had the same taxes, same living conditions and same income. By Carys Inman 9 Silver |
References
Immigrant Influences. [Internet]. Available from www.goldrushcolony.com.au/australian-gold-history-culture-info/immigrant-influences-australia
Parry, A. (2007). The Gold Rushes. MacMillan, South Yarra.
The Immigration Rush. [Internet]. Available from www.sbs.com.au/gold/story.php?storyid=49
Immigrant Influences. [Internet]. Available from www.goldrushcolony.com.au/australian-gold-history-culture-info/immigrant-influences-australia
Parry, A. (2007). The Gold Rushes. MacMillan, South Yarra.
The Immigration Rush. [Internet]. Available from www.sbs.com.au/gold/story.php?storyid=49