Gold

A pictorial history of the Australian goldrush.

The discovery of gold in California in January 1848 saw thousands of men rush from the Australian colonies to try their luck in America. Then in 1851, fresh from their success on the American goldfields, Australian diggers Edward Hargraves and James Esmond began an Australian goldrush that turned the world "topsie turvey". The focus of the world suddenly turned to the bills, gullies and swirling creeks of New South Wales and Victoria as 'new-chums' from all over the globe rushed to be rich.

Gold: A Pictorial History of the Australian Goldrush includes more than 300 illustrations from collections around the world. From beautifully detailed paintings to wittily observed sketches of everyday goldfields life, this rich collection of engravings, photographs, paintings and ephemera combine with written narrative to tell the story of the heady days that followed the discovery of gold in Australia.

Geoff Hocking has brought together a consummate collection of images and colourful stories of the characters who rushed to Australia.