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.
12 events found.
Historical Events
Events
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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...
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Thames Gold Rush Begins (1867)
Thousands poured into the Coromandel Peninsula after gold was confirmed near Thames on this day in 1867, launching one of New Zealand’s last great rushes.
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Ballarat Gold Escort Robbery (1853)
On this day in 1853, bushrangers held up a gold escort near Ballarat, stealing 1,500 ounces in what became one of Australia’s most daring gold heists.
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Bendigo Gold Rush Begins (1851)
Gold was officially confirmed in Bendigo on this day in 1851, accelerating Victoria’s rush and laying the groundwork for one of Australia’s richest fields.
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Eureka Stockade Rebellion (1854)
On this day in 1854, miners protesting license fees and injustice clashed with police at Eureka—an event now seen as a birth cry of Australian democracy.
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First Gold Dredge Operates in NZ (1863)
The Clutha River saw NZ’s first successful gold dredge in operation on this day in 1863—ushering in a new era of mining technology.
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Sutter’s Mill Gold Discovery (1848)
On this day in 1848, James Marshall found gold at Sutter’s Mill in California. News of the discovery led to the largest migration in U.S. history — the California Gold...
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Welcome Stranger Gold Nugget Discovered (1869)
The Welcome Stranger gold nugget, discovered on February 5, 1869, near Moliagul, Victoria, remains the largest alluvial gold nugget ever found by hand. It weighed a staggering 72 kilograms (2,300...
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Klondike Gold Rush (1896)
The Klondike gold rush began on February 12, 1896, in the icy north of Canada’s Yukon Territory. Within months, thousands set out in a brutal journey across frozen passes in...