What housing was there in the gold rush?

Answer 1

Conditions on the Australian goldfields were harsh. The fields were crowded: miners had between 1 and 3 square metres of 'claim' to live and work. Conditions were unsanitary, due to the open toilet trenches. Many diggers lived in tents, or even rough, open bark shelters. Those who stayed longer sometimes built larger slab hut dwellings, but these were still very basic. People would live in small humpies made out of wood, scraps and things found around the area. Also many people would live in a canvas tent because they were cheap and portable. Later in the gold rush, when people were more certain about whether they were staying or not, people might decide to live in small cottages. These cottages often incorporated solid brick and stone fireplaces, instead of the diggers having to do all their cooking outside.

Those not living on the goldfields but capitalising on the wealth of the goldfields built large, grand stone houses, many of which are still standing today.

See the related Wikipedia link for a range of pictures of different goldfields housing.

Answer 2

Many diggers on the goldfields lived in tents, or even rough, open bark shelters. Those who stayed longer sometimes built larger slab hut dwellings, but these were still very basic. People would live in small humpies made out of wood, scraps and things found around the area. Also many people would live in a canvas tent because they were cheap and portable. Later in the gold rush, when people were more certain about whether they were staying or not, people might decide to live in small cottages. These cottages often incorporated solid brick and stone fireplaces, instead of the diggers having to do all their cooking outside.