How did the discovery of the gold rush effect Australia?

Answer 1

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.

However, the rush of diggers to the goldfields increased the problems of displacement of the Aborigines from their own land. The effects of gold mining on the land were devastating and long-lasting. Gold mining ripped up the land, polluted the rivers and creeks, and left nothing for the aboriginal people who had lived there for centuries. Aborigines were again dispossessed of their land as they had been time and time again since the arrival of the Europeans. After having been forced off tribal lands by settlers and pastoralists, the goldrush forced even more Aborigines deeper into the interior. However, it must also be noted that, with the new wealth of the country and expanding farming land, many Aborigines were given opportunities to work on the sheep and cattle stations. The cost of European labour had increased dramatically with the goldrush, and Aborigines were seen as a cheap alternative.

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

Answer 2

The discovery of gold had lasting effects on Australian society.

• One of the main effects of the gold rushes was on the growing agricultural industry. Many men who worked on the farms, sheep and cattle stations simply downed their tools and left. Workers, owners, roustabouts, stockmen, jackaroos - they left their jobs for the lure of the goldfields. Often women and children were left to tend the stations their husbands left behind. As a result, Aboriginal labour became more popular. The goldrushes saw the rise of loyal Aboriginal stockmen and jackaroos who were willing to work long and hard for perhaps less pay than their predecessors.
• Because major gold discoveries were made in Victoria, this newly separated state suddenly found itself very wealthy. Businesses boomed, together with the population, and more people settled further out from the established towns, sparking interest and enthusiasm in exploration. Victoria's newfound wealth was directly responsible for the well-equipped but badly managed exploration of Burke and Wills, which ultimately resulted in their deaths.
• Immigration was a major effect of the Australian goldrush. Enormous numbers of immigrants, especially Chinese, brought their unique cultural influences to Australia, and many of the Chinese stayed on to build businesses in the towns once the main gold deposits were mined out. Gold attracted immigrants from many other European countries as well, and contributed in large part to the multicultural nature of Australia today.
• The events of the Eureka Stockade formed the basis for democracy that exists in Australia today. The miners fought for better rights amongst difficult conditions on the goldfields. While they did not immediately achieve their objective, it gained the attention of the Government. A Commission of Enquiry was conducted and changes were implemented. These included abolition of monthly gold licences, replaced by an affordable annual miner's licence. The numbers of troopers were reduced significantly, and Legislative Council was expanded to allow representation to the major goldfields.
• Gold brought wealth to Australia, and with it, a new sense of identity, and the independence and confidence to push for Federation and the establishent of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. Basically, Australia no longer needed to be "piggybacked" by England any more.
• Because of the rivalry between Melbourne, Victoria and Sydney, NSW, a new site was chosen for the Australian capital. Canberra lies where it is today because of this very rivalry brought on by the goldrush.
• The goldrushes helped bring improvements in transportation. The famous "Cobb and Co Coaches" ran successfully for half a century, thanks to the goldrush. Train lines were built, linking the major centres, and roadways were improved.

Negative effects for Australia included:

• The greater displacement of the indigenous people as more and more of them were forced off their land.
• Separation of families as fathers left their jobs and went to the goldfields, hoping to strike it rich, while their wives stayed behind, sometimes having to operate the farms and stations on their own.
• Environmentally, the goldrush was a disaster, although unrecognised at the time. Features of the Australian landscape were forever altered in the space of a few decades, and soil erosion was a major effect, the evidence of which can still be seen today. Water quality was affected as people used the creeks and rivers for all their activities, including bathing and washing dirty (sometimes disease-ridden) clothes. Water salinity rose as natural watercourses were diverted. Introduced noxious weeds decimated native flora and affected native fauna, as did the introduction of domestic animals to hitherto unpopulated areas.

See also the related question below.

Answer 3

The discovery of gold had lasting effects on Australian society.

• One of the main effects of the gold rushes was on the growing agricultural industry. Many men who worked on the farms, sheep and cattle stations simply downed their tools and left. Workers, owners, roustabouts, stockmen, jackaroos - they left their jobs for the lure of the goldfields. Often women and children were left to tend the stations their husbands left behind. As a result, Aboriginal labour became more popular. The goldrushes saw the rise of loyal Aboriginal stockmen and jackaroos who were willing to work long and hard for perhaps less pay than their predecessors.
• Because major gold discoveries were made in Victoria, this newly separated state suddenly found itself very wealthy. Businesses boomed, together with the population, and more people settled further out from the established towns, sparking interest and enthusiasm in exploration. Victoria's newfound wealth was directly responsible for the well-equipped but badly managed exploration of Burke and Wills, which ultimately resulted in their deaths.
• Immigration was a major effect of the Australian goldrush. Enormous numbers of immigrants, especially Chinese, brought their unique cultural influences to Australia, and many of the Chinese stayed on to build businesses in the towns once the main gold deposits were mined out. Gold attracted immigrants from many other European countries as well, and contributed in large part to the multicultural nature of Australia today.
• The events of the Eureka Stockade formed the basis for democracy that exists in Australia today. The miners fought for better rights amongst difficult conditions on the goldfields. While they did not immediately achieve their objective, it gained the attention of the Government. A Commission of Enquiry was conducted and changes were implemented. These included abolition of monthly gold licences, replaced by an affordable annual miner's licence. The numbers of troopers were reduced significantly, and Legislative Council was expanded to allow representation to the major goldfields.
• Gold brought wealth to Australia, and with it, a new sense of identity, and the independence and confidence to push for Federation and the establishent of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. Basically, Australia no longer needed to be "piggybacked" by England any more.
• Because of the rivalry between Melbourne, Victoria and Sydney, NSW, a new site was chosen for the Australian capital. Canberra lies where it is today because of this very rivalry brought on by the goldrush.
• The goldrushes helped bring improvements in transportation. The famous "Cobb and Co Coaches" ran successfully for half a century, thanks to the goldrush. Train lines were built, linking the major centres, and roadways were improved.

Negative effects for Australia included:

• The greater displacement of the indigenous people as more and more of them were forced off their land.
• Separation of families as fathers left their jobs and went to the goldfields, hoping to strike it rich, while their wives stayed behind, sometimes having to operate the farms and stations on their own.
• Environmentally, the goldrush was a disaster, although unrecognised at the time. Features of the Australian landscape were forever altered in the space of a few decades, and soil erosion was a major effect, the evidence of which can still be seen today. Water quality was affected as people used the creeks and rivers for all their activities, including bathing and washing dirty (sometimes disease-ridden) clothes. Water salinity rose as natural watercourses were diverted. Introduced noxious weeds decimated native flora and affected native fauna, as did the introduction of domestic animals to hitherto unpopulated areas.

Answer 4

well....the gold rush made the grounds more less with gold because they dig all the time.............and the trees and grass were stayed the same. the miners used the leaved for toilet paper sometimes.

Answer 5

There were numerous benefits as a result of the Australian goldrushes.

• Although not seen as a benefit at the time, immigration proved an advantage. Enormous numbers of immigrants, especially Chinese, brought their unique cultural influences to Australia, and many of the Chinese stayed on to build businesses in the towns once the main gold deposits were mined out.
• Because of the rivalry between Melbourne, Victoria and Sydney, NSW, a new site was chosen for the Australian capital. Canberra lies where it is today because of this very rivalry brought on by the goldrush.
• The goldrushes helped bring improvements in transportation. The famous "Cobb and Co Coaches" ran successfully for half a century, thanks to the goldrush. Train lines were built, linking the major centres, and roadways were improved.
• The Eureka Stockade led to the beginnings of democracy and democratic representation for all classes and groups of people in Australia.
• Gold brought wealth to Australia, and with it, a new sense of independence and confidence to push for Federation and the establishent of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901.

Answer 6

The discovery of gold had lasting effects on Australian society and the Australian economy.

• One of the main effects of the gold rushes was on the growing agricultural industry. Many men who worked on the farms, sheep and cattle stations simply downed their tools and left. Workers, owners, roustabouts, stockmen, jackaroos - they left their jobs for the lure of the goldfields. Often women and children were left to tend the stations their husbands left behind. As a result, Aboriginal labour became more popular. The goldrushes saw the rise of loyal Aboriginal stockmen and jackaroos who were willing to work long and hard for perhaps less pay than their predecessors.
• Because major gold discoveries were made in Victoria, this newly separated state suddenly found itself very wealthy. Businesses boomed, together with the population, and more people settled further out from the established towns, sparking interest and enthusiasm in exploration. Victoria's newfound wealth was directly responsible for the well-equipped but badly managed exploration of Burke and Wills, which ultimately resulted in their deaths.
• Immigration was a major effect of the Australian goldrush. Enormous numbers of immigrants, especially Chinese, brought their unique cultural influences to Australia, and many of the Chinese stayed on to build businesses in the towns once the main gold deposits were mined out. Gold attracted immigrants from many other European countries as well, and contributed in large part to the multicultural nature of Australia today.
• The events of the Eureka Stockade formed the basis for democracy that exists in Australia today. The miners fought for better rights amongst difficult conditions on the goldfields. While they did not immediately achieve their objective, it gained the attention of the Government. A Commission of Enquiry was conducted and changes were implemented. These included abolition of monthly gold licences, replaced by an affordable annual miner's licence. The numbers of troopers were reduced significantly, and Legislative Council was expanded to allow representation to the major goldfields.
• Gold brought wealth to Australia, and with it, a new sense of identity, and the independence and confidence to push for Federation and the establishent of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. Basically, Australia no longer needed to be "piggybacked" by England any more.
• Because of the rivalry between Melbourne, Victoria and Sydney, NSW, a new site was chosen for the Australian capital. Canberra lies where it is today because of this very rivalry brought on by the goldrush.
• The goldrushes helped bring improvements in transportation. The famous "Cobb and Co Coaches" ran successfully for half a century, thanks to the goldrush. Train lines were built, linking the major centres, and roadways were improved.

Negative effects for Australia included:

• The greater displacement of the indigenous people as more and more of them were forced off their land.
• Separation of families as fathers left their jobs and went to the goldfields, hoping to strike it rich, while their wives stayed behind, sometimes having to operate the farms and stations on their own.
• Environmentally, the goldrush was a disaster, although unrecognised at the time. Features of the Australian landscape were forever altered in the space of a few decades, and soil erosion was a major effect, the evidence of which can still be seen today. Water quality was affected as people used the creeks and rivers for all their activities, including bathing and washing dirty (sometimes disease-ridden) clothes. Water salinity rose as natural watercourses were diverted. Introduced noxious weeds decimated native flora and affected native fauna, as did the introduction of domestic animals to hitherto unpopulated areas.

Answer 7

The Australian colonies became more multicultural, prosperity increased and politics became more democratic.