Migration during the Gold Rush

Why Migrate?• http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0piHgqPE_dk&feature=related

• Migration – Although people migrate to different places for many different reasons, the main driving factor for migration is employment. For many people, a site change in their existing job forces them to move, but for others it is the prospect of a better job that attracts them to a new location.

Who?

*Europeans – British, Irish, Germans, Italians, Greek, Polish, Maltese, Russians & FrenchMain focus*Chinese – Mostly from the Canton region*Pacific Islanders – Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia

?

Gold Rush• The first gold rush in Australia started in 1851 when

prospector Edward Hargraves claimed the discovery gold near Bathurst, New South Wales, at a site Edward Hargraves called Ophir.

• Eight months later, gold was found in Victoria too, in Ballarat and Bendigo.

• Australia's population grew from 400,000 to over 1,000,000 during 1845 to 1896 as a consequence of gold discoveries

• Many Chinese immigrated during this time.

Conditions• In the decade of 1851, ½ million

people from Britain, Europe, China & North America came to Victoria in search of gold.• Upon arrival they found

accommodation to be scarce and food/travel to be very expensive. • Many sold precious possessions

in order to buy tools & necessities. • The Chinese gold diggers

experienced a lot of racism.

Conditions• Living conditions were bad. • Cotton tents, wood/stumps for furniture

& straw/leaves on the floor served as a bed. Blankets were flea ridden.

• Food was expensive and monotonous. Poor diet caused abraded hands which many diggers got.

• Inadequate sanitary arrangements & polluted water let to outbreaks of dysentery and sand flight bites caused sandy blight & variety of illnesses.

• Injury & death from mining incidents were common.

The Chinese• Many Chinese migrated to

Australia after the 1849. Many who left China to discover gold in Australia came by boat.• Around 40,000. Most were men

& most left afterwards.• The Chinese were the biggest

non-European group at the goldfields. • They were not very welcome as

their dress and habits were different from the other diggers.

Why?• Instability in China and

Hong Kong because of the Opium Wars and various famines and plagues.• Australia and its fortune of

gold was very appealing to those wanting a better future.• They could sell the gold and

then collect the money which they could save for their family.

The Chinese• The average Chinese miner could live

on less, withstand worse conditions and remain patient longer than diggers of other nationalities. • They could work all day waist deep in

water so weather didn’t affect their working habits. • They were often extremely secretive

about their success. • They often found gold in places where

European gold diggers had given up on.• Led to resentment & jealousy

Cultural differences• Different religious practices such as Taoist

or Buddhist devotional acts made Europeans think they were heathens & idol worshippers.

• Introduced opium smoking which led to Opium wars.• Europeans were angry that people were

becoming addicted & lazy because of opium.

• Introduced novelty forms of gambling & it was thought that 1 in 2 Chinese gambled.

• Usually worked in groups with other Chinese individuals. Didn’t mix with the other cultural groups.

Hostility• European miners grew increasingly hostile

towards the Chinese. They accused them of opium smoking and wasting water.

• They were also jealous when they found gold in areas the Europeans gave up on.

• The Chinese miners remained passive as hostility rose against them. This hostility exploded, and anti-Chinese riots developed.

• In Victoria, in 1857, 22 Chinese were killed as a result of these riots. In New South Wales, in 1861, two more Chinese were killed in further riots.

Chinese Immigration Act• The large numbers of Chinese

immigrants worried the local government.

• They placed heavy restrictions on the number of Chinese who could enter Victoria, as well as a tax for Chinese people entering the state.

• To avoid these costs, many Chinese travelled first to South Australia, which had no restrictions for their migration, and walked vast distances to cross into Victoria.

Australia Today: Conclusion• What are some of the impacts these migrants had on Australia

today?• How do you think Australia would be different if the Gold Rush

migrations had never occurred?• How has Australia been improved as a results of the

migration?