In 1851 South Australians heard that gold have been discovered in Victoria,
and it seemed that almost every able-bodied man left South Australia in the hope
of making their fortune on the goldfields.
Emigrants from across the world arrived in Adelaide, heard of the discoveries
and began making plans to 'go to the diggins'.
English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, French and Germans left, soon joined by
goldseekers from the Orient whose hazardous sea voyages concluded in Adelaide.
These enthusiastic goldseekers set out of what would be a long and arduous
journey travelling by land or sea to the Victorian goldfields. Many more
travelled by foot, often to save what little money they had. For those who found
success on the goldfields, to Gold Escort was created by the South Australian
Commissioner of Police in 1852 to ensure that the gold that the more than
£2,000,000 worth of gold was received home safely. By 1853 many of these
goldseekers had returned home to new lives, and challenges.
This CD-ROM introduces the family historian to this exciting period in
history by offering an insight into this endeavour, from the official records,
reports published in the newspapers of the day, and from the diaries of the
goldseekers themselves.
Packed full of information, some of the resources on the CD include:
- Passenger lists for over 2,100 South Australians who travelled between
Adelaide and Melbourne between October and December 1851, as well as passenger
lists for over 14,000 who came back to South Australia in 1852, as published
in the South Australian newspapers
- The names of over 600 South Australians who placed their gold and their
trust with the South Australian Gold Escort Service, plus information on how
to research those who used this service
- Diaries and biographies of many individual goldseekers
This is an enormous and unique record, and will be welcomed by all who have
South Australian ancestors who went to the Victorian goldfields.
