After Edward Hargraves's find, many foreign prospectors arrrived on the Australian goldfields. These new arrivals made Australia's population triple, but despite this, Sydney and Melbourne were almost empty, as many had left to look for gold.
MULTICULTURALISM
Gold diggers came from many different countries, including France, Germany, America, Italy, Poland, Hungary and China. Most prospectors were British, however, there were approxiametely 40, 000 Chinese people on the Australian goldfields at that time. There was a substantial amount of conflict between the British and Chinese on the goldfields, and this led to the Chinese populating their own area on the goldfields, apart from the other diggers.
JOURNEY TO THE GOLFIELDS
The journey to get to the Australian goldfields was long and tiring. Many prospectors went on foot, as they could not afford or did not own any other form of transportation. Lucky diggers sometimes had wheelbarrows to carry their belongings, instead of transporting their gear on their backs. Rich prospectors had horses to ride or pull a cart full of their belongings. Along the way were farms and properties where prospectors could rest and eat, such as the property of 'Scotch Harry' Kerr. 'Scotch Harry' Kerr would feed the weary travellers with damper and mutton stew for two shillings. Other properties, such as that of Joseph Eades, would offer a place where horses could be left whilst their owners headed for the goldfields.
