Sir R. Murchison, from observations at the Ural gold diggings, and his
knowledge of the geology of New South Wales, concluded that in our
eastern ridge the treasure would be found. The Rev. W. B. Clarke of
Sydney, some years ago made a similar announcement, and in fact
discovered gold in the valley of the Macquarie. Mr. Edward Hammond
Hargraves arrived in Australia from California, resolving to find a gold
field in our adopted land. On the 12th of February, 1851, he sighted the
favored locality. Disappointed in his application for £500 bonus from
government, he at length threw himself upon the liberality of the
authorities, and made known the lucky spots on April 30th. The
Government geologist reported favorably of the discovery, and Mr.
Hargraves afterwards received £500 and an appointment of Commissioner of
Crown Lands. The first party of diggers left Bathurst on May 6th. The
scene of labor was Ophir, at the junction of the Summerhill Creek with
the Lewis’ Ponds Creek, near the river Macquarie, and 30 miles from
Bathurst. The Turon became known June 16th, and Louisa Creek the month
after. The metal is now known to exist more or less from the Manero
Plains to Moreton Bay. The Bathurst gold was found alloyed with silver
in the proportion of 30 grains to an ounce. Platina and the precious
stones are also found.
The Port Phillip people were alarmed at the good fortune of their
neighbours. A gold committee offered a reward for the discovery of a
gold field here. It was known that the precious material had been seen.
The Clunes diggings were announced on July 8th, 1851. They were on Deep
Creek, a tributary of the Loddon, 100 miles to the west of Melbourne.
The Buninyong followed in August 9th, being 25 miles nearer our capital.
But the great revelation was made at Ballarat, on September 8th, which
was 75 miles from Melbourne and 54 from Geelong. On September 17th, the
press declared that “Geelong is mad, stark staring gold mad.” The
following “symptoms of insanity created some amusement at the time:—”
1. Rising early and proceeding to the creek, pulling the stones about,
and washing the sand and gravel, then placing it in a box resembling a
cradle, imagining the stones and sand to be a _child of earth with
golden hair_; rocking the child to sleep; then taking the mud and gravel
out, and putting it into an _expecting dish_, mixing it with water and
shaking it, all the while looking at the slush with the fondest
solicitude for its safety; ultimately throwing it away with disgust, and
assuming the appearance of intense disappointment.