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Although it is not specifically recorded, it is highly probable that gold had already been found at Ophir, which was given its name later by Edward Hargraves. When Hargarves sought to meet the Government's challenge and offer of rewards to anyone finding payable gold in NSW, he enlisted the assistance of John Lister, a man who had already found gold in the region. Lister led Hargraves directly to where gold was found, at Summerhill Creek, at a site which Hargraves named "Ophir".

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Q: Did anyone find gold in Ophir before Hargraves?
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Why did hargraves think that he would be able to find gold in Australia?

Because the Ophir scenery looked a lot like the scenery at the californian gold rush where Hargraves had just recently gone to. Thats what I think.


Edward Hargraves discovered what in California?

Edward Hargraves did not discover anything in California. He was unsuccessful on the goldfields, but he did bring back to Australia knowledge of gold-bearing country and different techniques for panning, such as cradling. Hargraves was the first to find payable gold in Australia, doing so in May 1851, at Ophir, near Bathurst, NSW.


Where were many prospectorsgoing to find gold before hargraves discovery?

Before Edward Hargraves made his discovery, many were traveling to California to find gold. He inspired the Australian gold rush in 1851.


Where were many prospecters going to find gold before hargraves discovery?

a river


Did edward hargraves find gold first?

No. Many discoveries of gold had been found before Edward Hargraves found his but it was kept secret in case of chaos.


Who was Edward Hargraves and what did he do?

Edward Hargraves was a man famous in Australian history. He is commonly credited with being the first to officially find payable gold in Australia, and thus with starting the Australian gold rush. Hargraves, with a great deal of help from a man named John Lister, found gold at Summerhill Creek, at a place he named Ophir, near Bathurst, New South Wales. Lister was not given the credit, even though he did the hard work, using knowledge and technology brought by Hargraves from California.


How did hargraves find gold?

Hargraves had some experience with gold prospecting in California, although not a lot of success. He noted similarities in the topology and geology of the countryside west of Sydney compared to that of the Californian goldfields. Logically speaking, he believed the Australian landscape should also contain gold. Hargraves enlisted the assistance of John Lister, a man who had already found gold in the region. Lister led Hargraves directly to where gold was found, at Summerhill Creek, at a site which Hargraves named "Ophir". Hargraves instructed Lister and two brothers, James and William Tom, in panning and mining techniques he had learned in California, and their persistence paid handsome dividends with the discovery of substantial gold.


How did Edward Hargraves find gold?

Hargraves had some experience with gold prospecting in California, although not a lot of success. He noted similarities in the topology and geology of the countryside west of Sydney compared to that of the Californian goldfields. Logically speaking, he believed the Australian landscape should also contain gold. Hargraves enlisted the assistance of John Lister, a man who had already found gold in the region. Lister led Hargraves directly to where gold was found, at Summerhill Creek, at a site which Hargraves named "Ophir". Hargraves instructed Lister and two brothers, James and William Tom, in panning and mining techniques he had learned in California, and their persistence paid handsome dividends with the discovery of substantial gold.


What was Edward Hargraves significant for?

In essence, Hargraves started the gold rush. Edward Hargraves was not the first to discover gold in Australia, but these early discoveries were kept suppressed, mainly for fear that they would cause unrest among the convicts. Hargraves was the first to find gold after the government started calling for experts to find gold, so that not so many people would leave Australia for the Californian goldfields. Hargraves had carefully studied the geology of the Bathurst area and, convinced that it was similar to that of the California goldfields, from where he had just returned, went prospecting. He asked for assistance from John Lister, a man who had already found gold in the region. Lister led Hargraves directly to where gold was found, at Summerhill Creek, at a site which Hargraves named "Ophir". After reporting his discovery, he was appointed a 'Commissioner of Land', receiving a reward of £10,000 plus a life pension. The New South Wales government made the official announcement of the discovery of gold on 22 May 1851.


Why was James Tom famous in the goldrush?

James Tom, together with John Lister, is one of the first but uncredited discoverers of payable gold in Australia.Edward Hargraves is generally regarded as the first to officially discover gold in Australia. Hargraves enlisted the assistance of John Lister and James Tom, men who had already found gold in the region. Lister and Tom led Hargraves directly to where gold was found, at Summerhill Creek, at a site which Hargraves named "Ophir".Hargraves has been credited with the discovery ever since, even though, by rights, credit should go to Lister. An enquiry in 1887 proved that John Hardmann Lister and James Tom were the first one to find gold in Australia.


Why was Edward Hargraves famous?

Edward Hargraves was famous for discovering gold in Australia in 1851. His discovery in Bathurst, New South Wales sparked the Australian gold rush and brought significant economic growth to the region. Hargraves is often credited with initiating the development of the mining industry in Australia.


What were Edward Hargraves' major achievements?

Rightly or wrongly, Edward Hargraves is credited with starting the gold rush in Australia. Edward Hargraves had studied the geology of the Bathurst area and, convinced that it was similar to that of the California goldfields, from where he had just returned, went prospecting. He asked for assistance from John Lister, a man who had already found gold in the region. Lister led Hargraves directly to where gold was found, at Summerhill Creek, at a site which Hargraves named "Ophir". After reporting his discovery, he was appointed a 'Commissioner of Land', receiving a reward of £10,000 plus a life pension. The New South Wales government made the official announcement of the discovery of gold on 22 May 1851.