jan 1, 1844 - Australian Gold Rush

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Gold was first discovered in Ophir, New South Wales then at Ballarat and Bendigo in Victoria. In 1844, when Governor Gipps was informed of these discoveries, he reportedly shut it down saying, “Put it away Mr Clarke or we shall all have our throats cut” in fear of New South Wales - predominantly made up of convicts and ex-convicts- breaking into mutiny once the population learned that gold The discovery of gold established a series of gold rushes that impacted the identity of was within reach.

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