Were there Aborigines living on the Australian goldfields?

Answer 1

Yes and there were some reasonably successful diggers among them.

However, the Aborigines benefitted more by offering their services as guides to potential diggers looking for new sites. Also, with the wave of workers leaving sheep and cattle stations for the goldfields, Aborigines had better prospects with employment there, rather than the goldfields.

See the link below for more information on how Aborigines benefitted from the gold rush.

Answer 2

They had poor conditions, and were paid rations or close to nothing for their cheap labour.

Further information:

Aborigines rarely bothered to look for gold, but they were able to trade with the miners. Some of them even became members of the Native Police Corps, and many were employed as "black trackers".

The aboriginal people saw little value in gold for themselves. Gold not be eaten; it could not be used in any practical ways. The Aborigines benefitted more by offering their services as guides to potential diggers looking for new sites. Also, with the wave of workers leaving sheep and cattle stations for the goldfields, Aborigines had better prospects with employment there, rather than the goldfields.

Answer 3

Yes there were Aboriginals on the gold fields who were prospectors in their own right, and were successful as well.