Gold and Immigration
In Sydney Morning Herald, the British people were interested in migrating to the Australian land to exploit the large gold mine fields. In reference to the newspaper, the estimated value of Australian gold fields was $40,000,000. These estimates were made between the years 1842 – 1954, as the England Isles cared less of Australia’s Gold Districts. According to the article, the Australian Agricultural Company held hundred thousand acres at the Peel River. Besides, in New South Wales, gold fields extended sixty thousand square miles. As a result, a projected 100,000 England people were estimated to have migrated to Australia Gold Districts by 1852.
During the same period, rumours about Australia ‘auriferous wealth were so rampant. However, thousands of people were breaking-up establishments, relinquishing employments, and quitting their forefather’s land. This was based on calculations and hopes which eventually ended up with bitter disappointment.
Surprisingly, the total number of immigrants who had arrived to Australia by 1853 was 103,000. Estimates indicated that, the number f British Isles who would have left for Australian gold mine would be 100,000 people by the end of 1952. As a result, Australia’s Gold Districts were endangered. This was extraordinary. Also more extraordinary was the fact that this huge increase of labour-power brought no sensible impact in supplying Australia with enough labour market. Immigrants who arrived during this colony period, a lot was established. As a result, there was a followed reduction in wages to the Australian labourers. This demonstrates how vast Australia’s Gold districts has vast resources of immeasurable capacities. Nonetheless, more labour was wanted.
References
Butlin, Noel G. 1994. Forming a Colonial Economy: Australia 1810-1850. Victoria: Cambridge University Press.
Sydney Morning Herald. 1853. Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954. 2 April.
