When did Edward Hargraves first find gold in Australia?

Answer 1

Edward Hargraves did not specifically want to start a gold rush in Australia. He was merely responding to the government's invitation and incentives to find gold, to stem the tide of Australians leaving for the Californian goldrushes. Hargraves's reward for finding gold was to be appointed a 'Commissioner of Land', receiving a reward of £10,000 plus a life pension. Also, there was the personal motivation. Hargraves had not had much success on the California goldfields, but he knew his chances on the untapped Australian goldfields would be greater.

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.

Answer 2

Gold was first "officially" discovered in Australia in February 1851, not far from Bathurst, New South Wales. The actual location was Summerhill Creek, at a specific point later named Ophir.

Edward Hargraves is credited with making the discovery that led to the beginning of the Australian gold rushes, although his success was largely due to the assistance of John Lister.

The New South Wales government officially announced Hargraves' discovery of gold on 22 May 1851.

Answer 3

Edward Hargraves was not actually the one who made the gold discovery, even though he is credited with starting the Australian goldrush. It was a man he employed, John Lister, who found it. Lister and a helper named William Tom found the first payable gold at a site that Hargraves named Ophir. This site was near Summerhill Creek, which is not far from Bathurst, just west of the Blue Mountains near Sydney.

Answer 4

Gold was first "officially" discovered in Australia in 1851, not far from Bathurst, New South Wales. Edward Hargraves had carefully studied the geology of the area and, convinced that it was similar to that of the California goldfields, from where he had just returned, went prospecting. 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".

Answer 5

No.

Gold was discovered in Australia as early as the 1820s and 30s, but discoveries were kept secret, for fear of sparking off unrest among the convicts. There is much conjecture about who was the first person to find gold in Australia. It would be fair to say that perhaps we will never actually know who was the first person to find gold. However, there are some records of notable people finding gold. Surveyor James McBrien reported finding gold near Bathurst, NSW in 1823. Polish explorer Paul Strzeleckifound gold near Hartley Vale in 1839. All these discoveries were kept secret, for fear of sparking off unrest among the convicts. When Reverend WB Clark found gold near Lithgow in 1941, he was requested by Governor Gipps to keep quiet about it. However, as more people left the Australian colonies to join the gold rush in California, the government began to seek experts who could locate gold in Australian countrysides.

Gold was first officially discovered in Australia in 1851, not far from Bathurst, New South Wales. Edward Hargraves had carefully studied the geology of the area and, convinced that it was similar to that of the California goldfields, from where he had just returned, went prospecting. However, he did not find gold using his own skills. 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". Hargraves has been credited with the discovery ever since, even though, by rights, credit should go to Lister.

Answer 6

Edward Hargaves was in his early 30s when he first made the golden discovery in Australia. His first vein of gold came from Bathurst.

Answer 7

Edward Hargraves discovered gold at Summerhill Creek, at a place he called Ophir, neat Bathurst, New South Wales.

Answer 8

people from all over the world rushed to the the gold fields to strike it rich

Answer 9

Gold was first found by Edward Hargraves in February 1851. The New South Wales government made the official announcement of the discovery of gold on 22 May 1851.

Answer 10

Edward Hargraves is credited with making the first "official" discovery of gold in Australia on 12 February 1851. The discovery was reported in May 1851.