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Gold was discovered in Australia as early as the 1820s. Surveyor James McBrien reported finding gold at the Fish River near Bathurst, NSW in 1823, while Polish explorer Paul Strzelecki found 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.

This changed when the Californian gold rushes started, and Australians began leaving the country in the hopes of striking gold in America. The New South Wales government began to encourage gold finds, offering a reward for the discovery of payable gold. Gold was first officially discovered in Australia in 1851, not far from Bathurst, New South Wales. After carefully studying the geology of the area and, Edward Hargraves was convinced that it was similar to that of the California goldfields, from where he had just returned. With the assistance of John Lister, a man who had already found gold in the region, Hargraves went prospecting. 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.

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Herbert Boyer

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4y ago

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Related Questions

How many years after gold was discovered in California was gold discovered in Australia?

Gold was discovered in California in 1848, and significant gold discoveries in Australia began in 1851. Therefore, gold was discovered in Australia approximately three years after it was discovered in California. This discovery in Australia led to a gold rush that attracted many prospectors and immigrants to the region.


What was discovered in Australia in 1851?

Australia's first payable gold was officially discovered in Australia in May 1851.


What year was Gold discovered in Australia?

Gold was discovered in Australia in 1851. This event triggered a gold rush that significantly impacted the country's economy and population.


Who discovered gold in Australia in the river in 1850?

No-one is recorded as having discovered gold in the river in Australia in 1850. However, Edward Hargraves discovered gold in Summerhill Creek near Ophir in 1851, and this sparked the Australian goldrush.


When was gold discovered at Ridgeway Goldmine in NSW Australia?

Gold was discovered at Ridgeway Goldmine, near Orange, NSW in November 1996.


Who were the people who discovered gold with Hargraves?

John Lister and William Tom were with Edward Hargraves when he discovered the first payable gold in Australia.


What was discovered in 1851 which led to a rapid increase in free men immigrating to Australia?

1851 was the year that the first payable gold was discovered in Australia.


Where has gold been discovered?

Gold has been discovered in many places including lots in California, in the USA, and plenty in all the states of Australia.


What if gold was never discovered in Australia?

life would be bad not much gold rushes too


What was Australia's first gold field?

Australia's first gold field was the one where the first payable gold was discovered in 1851 - that is Ophir, at Summerhill Creek, near Bathurst in NSW.


Where did Cody Simpson live in Australia?

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Where are some places that gold have been discovered?

South Africa, Australia, Canada