Step 1:Movies
Watch the following two movies. They will give you an overall picture of the Gold Rush in Australia. While you watch, take notice of all the changes that took place in Australia after the discovery of gold.
Step 2:Activity
- Open up Common Drive and find Mrs Brand's PowerPoint in your GOLD folder in your class area. This is an example of the Powerpoint that you will make to keep a record of your work. Open it.
- While you have Mrs Brand's PowerPoint open, go to FILE (click on it) and click on New Presentation.
- Spend a couple of minutes on the first slide. Use the same heading as Mrs Brand used and design your own background. Choose your own font. Make sure it is in keeping with the theme of The Gold Rushes. You can insert a picture from the picture folder if you like or one that you find yourself.
- Add a new slide. Look at Mrs Brand's 2nd slide and read the instructions. On your PowerPoint type in the question at the top and then type the answers to the questions.
Step 3: Read
Where did the diggers come from?
At first most diggers came from the surrounding farms or from Melbourne. Soon diggers, many of them ex-convicts, were arriving from Van Diemen's Land (Now Tasmania) and from New South Wales.
By mid-1852 the rush from diggers overseas began. They mostly were British but people came from many other countries too. These countries were America, Canada, Germany, France and Italy to name the main ones.
What sort of people were the diggers?
Eventually 350,000 people made the decision to emigrate to the Australian goldfields in the 1850's and of these 300,000 came from Britain. They were mostly young, literate, skilled men. They were working people such as mechanics from Manchester, miners from Cornwell or printers from London.
Things were so tough in Britain that they were keen to seek a better life in Australia. So, full of hope and courage, these skilled workers were eager to seize the opportunity. Emigration would be the greatest adventure of their lives.
What happened when people already living in Australia moved to the goldfields?
So many people left the Australian cities that it had a major impact on the businesses and the economy of the cities. Free settlers, ex-convicts and workers were attracted to the free lifestyle at the diggings. They could go where they pleased and work as they wanted. They might even strike it rich! Many did and those that didn't had to return to the cities and find jobs.
How did the diggers find Melbourne
Most diggers arrived in Melbourne before heading out to the Goldfields in rural Victoria. Melbourne was the first of many shocks for the diggers. Food was incredibly expensive and the only affordable accommodation was a tent in the canvas town that had sprung up on swampy ground near the port.
Before heading out to the goldfields the diggers would stock up on supplies in Melbourne. They would buy such things as flour, tea, sugar,tents, picks, shovels, candles and buckets.
The main method of getting to the goldfields was by foot. It was very muddy and often took many days. It was expensive to go by cart and dray.
At first most diggers came from the surrounding farms or from Melbourne. Soon diggers, many of them ex-convicts, were arriving from Van Diemen's Land (Now Tasmania) and from New South Wales.
By mid-1852 the rush from diggers overseas began. They mostly were British but people came from many other countries too. These countries were America, Canada, Germany, France and Italy to name the main ones.
What sort of people were the diggers?
Eventually 350,000 people made the decision to emigrate to the Australian goldfields in the 1850's and of these 300,000 came from Britain. They were mostly young, literate, skilled men. They were working people such as mechanics from Manchester, miners from Cornwell or printers from London.
Things were so tough in Britain that they were keen to seek a better life in Australia. So, full of hope and courage, these skilled workers were eager to seize the opportunity. Emigration would be the greatest adventure of their lives.
What happened when people already living in Australia moved to the goldfields?
So many people left the Australian cities that it had a major impact on the businesses and the economy of the cities. Free settlers, ex-convicts and workers were attracted to the free lifestyle at the diggings. They could go where they pleased and work as they wanted. They might even strike it rich! Many did and those that didn't had to return to the cities and find jobs.
How did the diggers find Melbourne
Most diggers arrived in Melbourne before heading out to the Goldfields in rural Victoria. Melbourne was the first of many shocks for the diggers. Food was incredibly expensive and the only affordable accommodation was a tent in the canvas town that had sprung up on swampy ground near the port.
Before heading out to the goldfields the diggers would stock up on supplies in Melbourne. They would buy such things as flour, tea, sugar,tents, picks, shovels, candles and buckets.
The main method of getting to the goldfields was by foot. It was very muddy and often took many days. It was expensive to go by cart and dray.
Step 4:Research and add more slides
- Add 4 more new slides to your Powerpoint. Use Mrs Brand's PowerPoint as a guide and copy the same headings on each of your new slides.
- You will need to go back to the first page of the OLR History website called Life on the Goldfields. There you will find many links to resources where you will find the information you need for these new slides.
- Remember to find the main information from the site and then to write it in your own words on the slide. When you are finished the writing, add a suitable picture.