Gold Discovered in Australia (1851)
On this day in 1851, Edward Hargraves’ discovery at Ophir, near Bathurst, sparked Australia’s first official gold rush and forever changed the colony's future.
5 events found.
Historical Events
Events
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Gabriel Read Arrives in New Zealand (1861)
On this day in 1861, Gabriel Read arrived in Dunedin en route to Tuapeka, where he would soon trigger New Zealand’s first major gold rush at Gabriel’s Gully.
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Eureka Lead Discovery (1851)
The rich Eureka Lead was uncovered in Ballarat on July 23, 1851, drawing thousands of miners and setting the stage for the Eureka Stockade.
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First Shipment of NZ Gold to London (1862)
On this day in 1862, the first major consignment of New Zealand gold left Dunedin bound for London, establishing NZ as a global supplier.
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Witwatersrand Gold Discovery (1886)
The discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand Basin on August 20, 1886, triggered the South African gold rush and turned a small camp into the bustling city of Johannesburg. This single find became one of the richest gold deposits in history and transformed South Africa into a global gold powerhouse. It also sparked decades of...