The article depicts how the few people got a lot of wealth through the mines lease contracts and were entangled in a lavish lifestyle. As demonstrated on the arrival goal of gold, George got inspired and planned a syndicate to secure mining leases. There was also improved as in 1894, where costly development conditions were approved and the leaseholders were allowed to obtain capital overseas. As a result, Brookman acquired leases that gave him control of 2000 acres of mining. As he thought to go to London to clear his bankruptcy, he was caught up by the lavish style of other wealthier class of other Australian mining men who were in London. He decided to make the mining investment into the dividend-paying plan and chose to stay in Perth.1 His extravagant life led him to buy land along with the country estate, have a seaside cottage, a motor car, a private yacht, and build a town mansion. He was later regarded as the leader of the gold-rush migrants and elected as the mayor of Perth. After resigning from the position, he needed up in Mandurah selling assets to repay his debts.
The key theme that arises from the text and as told by Knox shows that gold-rush enjoys enormous profitability. But unluckily, those who discovered did not profiteer from that. That means that the rest who were able to commercialize the mining business got a lot of profits. The profit was able to be generated, which happened around six main themes. The ability to find mining places, getting people to do the task was vital during the gold rush. That also included the nation-building from the profits gained from the mines, selling and buying, and ensuring working and trade-offs.2 There is a difference currently, and in the past, as the predecessors did not have the technology to discover minerals as done now. But what remains constant is that mines are at boom even in the current time and yield a lot of cash for the miners. And that makes the miners continue enjoying the profitability though the aspect of growth differs among people.
The gold discovery was necessary, but that did not mean that the gold rush was equally important. The main reason for the gold rush was brought by the balance between individual wealth and community. Edward Hargraves was credited for discovering gold and was publicly advertised. He said that he had made the discovery but lacked the expert to mine. The news of discoveries was made through telegrams and newspapers, which intense the gold rush. Many found it reasonable to abandon some part of their lives and rush for gold to maximize wealth. The educated class feared government intervention though it was a historical event. On the other side, the government tried to prevent the spread of new on gold discoveries due to the fear in the penal society.3 In California, there was no licensing of the mines as people were expected to work freely. Later, licensing was introduced where the private sector paid others to mine, which brought fairness to the public.
The first death in Eureka brings about the extravagant lives and power that the gold miners had. As brought about by James Scobie and Peter Martin having a whole night of drinking, they extravagantly use large amounts gotten from gold on alcohol. On their way home, they get to Eureka hotel shows the power that even the judge cannot determine the closing time. It through the night that Scobie’s death happens in the hotel. It raises a lot of questions about who could have killed him. A class of the wealthy tried to suspect the gold digger to a small extent though they do not believe in that. His death brings a lot of problems in the gold mines. The case did more and confirmed that most of the diggers’ opinion as inhabitants of the camp.4 The camp was a costly business such that the annual return from the license fee was required to maintain it. The graft and corruption that gave others power and the only way toned the injustices was to dismantle the goldfields.
Bibliography
Fahey, Charles. “Boom: The Underground History of Australia, from Gold Rush to GFC.” (2014): 459-460.
Giles R.O. “Brookman, William Gordon (1859–1910)” Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, (MUP), 1979
Goodman, David. “The gold rushes of the 1850s.” Cambridge University Press, 2013.
Moloney, John. First Death at Eureka. Eureka, Melbourne University Publishing, 2001. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/uwsau/detail.action?docID=5751722. Created from uwsau on 2020-06-13 08:43:07.
