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Why would the governor want to keep the discovery of gold a secret?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
After gold was discovered in Australia as early as 1823, discoveries were kept secret for a number of reasons.
First, there was the fear of sparking off unrest among the convicts. There was concern that, if the convicts heard about these discoveries, they would be more likely to attempt escape, and find their way to the goldfields to either look for gold, or to become bushrangers. This is why the first unofficial discovery of gold by Surveyor James McBrien at the Fish River near Bathurst, NSW in 1823, was kept quiet. When Reverend WB Clark found gold near Lithgow in 1941, he was requested by Governor Gipps to keep quiet about it. Gipps is reported to have said, "Put it away, Mr Clarke, or we will all have our throats cut!"
The discoveries were often made on good land. Settlers did not want a sudden influx of prospectors trooping over their properties, ruining good pastureland for their livestock, or damaging crops. They certainly did not want to risk the lawlessness that would inevitably follow. Not did they want their workers leaving in droves to find gold.
Prior to 1851, any gold discoveries automatically belonged to the government. There was no motivation for individuals to go out and actively seek gold, and certainly no motivation for them to make these discoveries public.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
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Benefits of keeping any discovery of gold in Australia a secret?
Workers, convicts and guards would run away to seek for their fortune.
How long was the discovery of gold kept secret?
Gold has been of know since ancient times. It is found in many places and by many people. Specific deposits may be kept secret.
How long did John Sutter was able to keep the discovery of gold a secret?
It was about a year between the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill and the influx of gold miners to California. Documents written by a person who found the gold are dated in 1848. The gold rush to California did not start until 1849.
4 How long was the discovery of gold kept secret?
Gold has been of know since ancient times. It is found in many places and by many people. Specific deposits may be kept secret.
Why did the Gold Discovery Committee offer rewards for finding gold?
The discovery of gold in New South Wales saw the people of newly-independent Victoria head north, emptying the towns and collapsing the economy. So the governor organised the Committee to promote discovery of gold in Victoria, offering high rewards, in the hope of bringing people back.
What discovery helped displace the Cherokee?
the discovery was gold
What caused many American settlers to go California in 1849?
The discovery of Gold
Why did the government want to keep the discovery of gold by Edward Hargraves a secret?
The government did not want to keep Hargraves's discovery a secret. On the contrary, the government had offered a reward for the discovery of payable gold, because it felt that too many people were leaving Australia for the Californian goldfields. The government sought experts who could locate gold in Australian countrysides, and offered substantial rewards for whoever found the first payable gold.However, earlier gold discoveries (from 1823 until the gold rushes of 1851) were kept secret for a number of reasons.First, there was the fear of sparking off unrest among the convicts. There was concern that, if the convicts heard about these discoveries, they would be more likely to attempt escape, and find their way to the goldfields to either look for gold, or to become bushrangers. This is why the first unofficial discovery of gold by Surveyor James McBrien at the Fish River near Bathurst, NSW in 1823, was kept quiet. When Reverend WB Clark found gold near Lithgow in 1941, he was requested by Governor Gipps to keep quiet about it. Gipps is reported to have said, "Put it away, Mr Clarke, or we will all have our throats cut!"The discoveries were often made on good land. Settlers did not want a sudden influx of prospectors trooping over their properties, ruining good pastureland for their livestock, or damaging crops. They certainly did not want to risk the lawlessness that would inevitably follow. Not did they want their workers leaving in droves to find gold.
Who was governor of New South Wales that didn't allow gold mining and why did he do it?
Governor Gipps.Gold was discovered in Australia as early as 1823, but he wanted to keep the discoveries secret for a number of reasons.First, there was the fear of sparking off unrest among the convicts. There was concern that, if the convicts heard about these discoveries, they would be more likely to attempt escape, and find their way to the goldfields to either look for gold, or to become bushrangers. This is why the first unofficial discovery of gold by Surveyor James McBrien at the Fish River near Bathurst, NSW in 1823, was kept quiet. When Reverend WB Clark found gold near Lithgow in 1941, he was requested by Governor Gipps to keep quiet about it. Gipps is reported to have said, "Put it away, Mr Clarke, or we will all have our throats cut!"
What was the events leading to the discovery of gold?
The event leading to Archimedes discovery is finding gold
What impact did the gold discovery had on modern society?
The impact discovery had on modern gold society
What was discovered in California in 1848 that caused settlers to pour in from all over the country?
The discovery of gold.
