Australia

Australia’s first important discovery of gold was made in 1851 in Victoria and triggered an unexpected gold rush during which the whole colony went gold mad. Within a year, almost one third of the population of the colony was working in the gold fields. Towns were emptied, farms abandoned and 80 % of the police force deserted.

Between 1851 and 1901 Australia together with America increased world’s gold production 6- or 7-fold. The gold rushes spread the European settlement and at the same time destroyed the aboriginal culture. With the development of electronic prospecting equipment, there is once again a gold rush going on in Australia. Nowadays Australia is one of the world’s most important gold producers.

The biggest alluvial gold nugget ever found in the world, ”Welcome Stranger”, was found in Victoria in 1869. It weighs over 70 kg. The biggest nugget recovered by mining was also found in Victoria. ”Holterman’s Nugget” was named after the mine director and it weighs almost 250 kg.