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Why did the government want to keep the discovery of Gold in Australia a secret?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Gold was discovered in Australia as early as 1823, but 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
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoAfter 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.
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When did gold fever start in Australia?
Gold fever in Australia began with the first official discovery of gold in 1851.
What is the Gold Time-line Of Australia?
See the link below for a detailed timeline of gold discovery in Australia.
Who did all the gold belong to before the gold rush?
before 1851, all gold in Australia belonged to the Government. Anyone found selling Gold was breaking the law.
Why did the government want to give Edward Hargraves a reward for his discovery?
The New South Wales government offered a reward for whoever found the first payable gold because too many people were leaving Australia for the Californian goldfields. The colony faced a huge loss of labour, and the government wanted to stem the tide of people leaving the country. Edward Hargraves was lucky enough to be the one who found the first payable gold so the government had to follow through with its promise.
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.
Benefits of keeping any discovery of gold in Australia a secret?
Workers, convicts and guards would run away to seek for their fortune.
When did gold fever start in Australia?
Gold fever in Australia began with the first official discovery of gold in 1851.
Did the government approve Hargraves' discovery?
Yes. Edward Hargraves is regarded as the one who first discovered payable gold in Australia. There had been numerous gold discoveries in the decades preceding Hargarve's discovery but news of them had been suppressed.
What is the Gold Time-line Of Australia?
See the link below for a detailed timeline of gold discovery in Australia.
How did the gold miners find out about the gold in Australia?
Following Edward Hargraves's discovery of payable gold in February 1851, the government made an official announcement, in May1851. The news quickly spread to other communities.
What city discovered gold?
Gold was discovered in Australia around the 1830's but the aussies kept the discovery a secret. However gold was first officially discovered in 1851. From there on Gold was found in other places like the Ballarat goldfields were rich and promising. Hope i helped
How did Australia's population increase in the 19th century?
Australia's population increased in the 19th century because of the discovery of gold.
When and where was gold first discovered in South Australia?
Although there were minor reports of gold earlier, the first official, reported discovery of gold in South Australia was in January 1846, near Castambul.
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 didn't the first discovery of gold in Australia cause the gold rush?
Gold had been discovered in Australia earlier than the official 1851 announcement of gold in New South Wales, but discoveries were kept secret in case the lure of gold incited convicts to escape. Also, early discoveries were often made by farmers who did not want prospectors trooping over their lands and rendering it unusable for sheep, cattle and crops.
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.
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.
