Gold in Australia – People, events and ways of life – Ages 11+

History of gold discovery

Abraham Lincoln once said ‘We cannot escape history’, meaning we cannot avoid the influence of the past on the present. The Australia we know today is the result of many decisions by powerful individuals and state and colonial parliaments. However, the discovery of payable gold deposits in the mid-nineteenth century was one of the greatest turning points in Australia’s history.

Gold in Australia is a comprehensive upper primary blackline master providing information on the historical importance of the discovery of gold in Australia.

It was written to explain, in detail:

• the history of gold discovery
• the impact on Australia and the environment
• the processes of gold
• important geographical information
• the human side of life on the goldfields.