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The government encouraged the search for gold to stimulate the economy and encourage Immigration. One of the main problems was that so many people left the Australian colonies to join the gold rush in California. The outward tide of manpower needed to be stemmed, and this could best be done by encouraging within Australia the very thing that was drawing people out ofAustralia at the time.
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ViviThe Australian government offered incentives to find gold in order to stem the tide of Australians leaving for the Californian goldrushes. Valuable manpower was being lost from Australia.
Therefore, despite early gold discoveries being suppressed, the New South Wales government decided to offer a substantial reward to the first person to find gold.
Only the first person needed a reward. Once the goldrush began, Australian would-be prospectors concentrated their efforts at finding their "fortune in gold" on Australian soil.
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What was the population of NSW in 1851?
Prior to the goldrushes, the population of NSW in 1851 was around 197,265. After the start of the goldrushes, that figure increased dramatically, but because of the transient population, there are no exact figures for 1851 post-gold-discovery.
How long did the goldrush last in bathurst?
The Bathurst Gold Rush started in May 1851. This was the beginning of the Australian goldrushes.
How did pizzaro die?
He was captured during an Exhibition into Chile in search of Gold. To Satisfy his thirst for Gold his native Captors poured molten Gold down his Throat.
Which motivation led European sailors to explore the Americas?
Initially Europeans explored the Americas in search of gold, silver and precious stones.
What was Edward Hargraves' role in the Australian gold rush?
In essence, Hargraves started the gold rush. Edward 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.
