Significant Events

Gold was first officially discovered in Australia on 15 February 1823, by assistant surveyor James McBrien, at Fish River, between Rydal and Bathurst.

Then in 1839, Pawel Edmund Strzelecki, a geologist and explorer, discovered small amounts of gold near Hartley, and in 1841 Reverend W. B. Clarke found gold on the Cox's River, both locations on the road to Bathurst.

The finds were kept quiet by the colonial government to avoid disrupting the young colony. It was feared that convicts and free settlers would leave their assigned work locations to rush to the new find areas to seek their fortunes, in particular damaging the new pastoral industry which was just getting started.

On February 12, 1851, a prospector discovered flecks of gold in a waterhole near Bathurst, New South Wales. Soon, even more gold was discovered in what would become the neighboring state of Victoria.

Then, in April 1851, John Lister and William Tom, trained by Edward Hargraves, found 120 grams of gold. This discovery, started by Hargraves, led directly to the beginning of the Gold Rush in New South Wales.

Before the end of 1851, the Gold Rush had spread to many other parts of the colony where gold had also been found,.

The NSW Gold Rush helped change the convict town of Sydney into more modern city with the arrival of many free immigrants from overseas. Australia's total population more than tripled from 430,000 in 1851 to 1.7 million in 1871.

Sydney (and The Rocks) became a multicultural society during the gold rush period. These new migrants, brought new skills and professions, and contributed to a growing economy. The population of NSW grew 86% in 10 years from 1851 to 1861, mainly by migrants attracted by the gold rush. One significant cultural group heading to the gold fields were the Chinese.

By 1861 there were about 13,000 Chinese people in NSW. Many passed through The Rocks on their way to the NSW gold fields, often staying in Chinese boarding houses and buying supplies in Chinese stores in The Rocks.

The money migrants earnt from gold, and how they spent their money, helped the NSW colony, including Sydney, to grow very fast with things like new buildings and roads and services.

By 1891 there were 47 buildings in The Rocks with Chinese occupants (see Yeesang Loong's shop under Significant People)

Another huge event that changed many people's lives in The Rocks was the change from sail power to steam power for transportation. Early journeys from Britain to NSW (like the first fleet) were often long (around 8-9 months) and dangerous, however fast Clipper ships reduced the journey to around 2-3 months. Often they raced each other to see who could arrive in the fastest time. Clippers were used to transport cargo like wool, as well as passengers. The NSW wool industry had grown fast in the 1830, with the establishment of large sheep farms, and by the British Government encouraging free migration and private investment in NSW. The main market for NSW wool was Britain.

By the 1850s, travel to Australia was possible using both steam and sail, however clippers continued to dominate the route until the end of the 1870s. By the 1880s steam ships had become more reliable and profitable and began to carry the majority of migrants and cargo. Steam ships were less reliant on wind and travelled at a constant speed. The stream engine also provided power for electric lighting, refrigeration and ventilation on board. This change from sail to steam meant people could travel quicker and in more comfort to Sydney. It also meant cargo could be shipped more quickly, and even refrigerated. Industries like the meat industry were developed around this time. This increase in trade meant The Rocks became an even busier shipping port, with many warehouses, particularly wool warehouses, lining The Rocks Streets, and Circular Quay (see the ASN Co Building under Significant Places).

Did you know? The Cutty Sark was the fastest Clipper ship to travel between Sydney and London in a record 72 days.

Learn more about changes in shipping technology