What type of transport was used on the gold fields in 1854?

Answer 1

Common transport included walking, horse and cart (dray) and horse and carriage or sulky. However, the goldrushes also saw the start of several other transport companies. Cobb & Co was one of several transport companies arising from the goldrushes, and arguably the best known. Set up in Melbourne in 1853 by immigrant Americans Freeman Cobb, John Murray Peck, John B Lamber and James Swanton, it was originally was called the American Telegraph Line of Coaches. Cobb & Co's first passenger run was on 30 September 1854, two weeks before its contract to convey 100 soldiers to Ballarat. It departed Melbourne for the Forest Creek diggings (now Castlemaine) and Bendigo. The network of routes was quickly expanded to deal with increased demand in the growing colony of Victoria. Initially a passenger service, Cobb & Co's reputation for speed and reliable service soon saw it being used for mail delivery and gold escort as well. It also used specially-sprung coaches, imported from America, which could handle the rough roads and rocky tracks much better than others operating at the time. Horses were replaced at changing stations 25 to 40 kilometres apart, meaning that fresher horses improved travelling time.