Who worked on the goldfields?
Over the gold rush era, more than 40,000 Chinese (mainly men) joined the gold fields. The Chinese were victims of racism in the gold fields because they were different in appearance, culture and religion. Other miners saw them as fierce competitors as they worked tirelessly. There were also many Europeans and migrants from all over the world. Some of them brought their families and some of them came by them self. The total population of Australia rose from 405,000 in 1850 to 695,000 in 1854 of which was from Victoria’s population increase. Aborigines were forced off their tribal lands to build gold mines and were offered a contract for a small amount of gold, but had no interest for the gold.
Most diggers were self-employed, averaging £70 a year in 1851, climbing to £357 by 1852. They worked from dawn to dusk, six days a week.
The colonial government enforced a licensing system that required all diggers to hold at all times. The licence cost 30 shillings. Regardless of finding gold it only limited the miner to a space of 3.5m and only lasted a month before renewal.
The colonial government enforced a licensing system that required all diggers to hold at all times. The licence cost 30 shillings. Regardless of finding gold it only limited the miner to a space of 3.5m and only lasted a month before renewal.