Life on the Goldfields

Contents People People Transport Transport Housing Housing Law and order Law and order Clothing Clothing Health Health Food Food Equipment Equipment

People On the goldfields there were ex convicts, Polish soldiers, Dutch sailors, English doctors, police (troopers), Sly grog sellers, Chinese labourers and native Australians. There were also countries from all over the world that came to the gold fields like Europeans, North America, South America, Indians and Africans. On the goldfields there were ex convicts, Polish soldiers, Dutch sailors, English doctors, police (troopers), Sly grog sellers, Chinese labourers and native Australians. There were also countries from all over the world that came to the gold fields like Europeans, North America, South America, Indians and Africans.

People People were very mean, nasty and cruel to the Chinese and the aboriginals because they were different. The white people teased, threatened and insulted different people to them. People were very mean, nasty and cruel to the Chinese and the aboriginals because they were different. The white people teased, threatened and insulted different people to them. It was terrible for the children on the goldfields. Most families could not afford to by shoes for there kids only the rich families. Many children on the goldfields caught sicknesses because they didn’t wear proper clothes. It was terrible for the children on the goldfields. Most families could not afford to by shoes for there kids only the rich families. Many children on the goldfields caught sicknesses because they didn’t wear proper clothes. Most of the diggers on the goldfields were English. Most of the diggers on the goldfields were English.

Transport People on the Goldfields mostly traveled by foot. All the poor families could only get to places by foot because they couldn’t afford horses because they were very expensive. The rich families that found gold traveled by horses and carriages. Some people came to the goldfields by donkeys or bullocks because they could carry large amounts of weight. People on the Goldfields mostly traveled by foot. All the poor families could only get to places by foot because they couldn’t afford horses because they were very expensive. The rich families that found gold traveled by horses and carriages. Some people came to the goldfields by donkeys or bullocks because they could carry large amounts of weight. People from other countries came to the goldfields by ship. People from other countries came to the goldfields by ship.

Transport Most of the miners used wheelbarrows to transport gold to other destinations or to carry their belongings such as tents, food and equipment. Most of the miners used wheelbarrows to transport gold to other destinations or to carry their belongings such as tents, food and equipment.

Housing The housing on the goldfields usually was tents or huts covered by bark roofs. Eventually there was a change of housing there were stone buildings and bark huts. The housing on the goldfields usually was tents or huts covered by bark roofs. Eventually there was a change of housing there were stone buildings and bark huts. The mattresses of the miners were stuffed with leaves. The miners sat on logs and sometimes sang songs around the camp fire – there were no TVs or computer games way back then. The mattresses of the miners were stuffed with leaves. The miners sat on logs and sometimes sang songs around the camp fire – there were no TVs or computer games way back then. The Chinese slept in tents. The Chinese people had their own area to sleep and it was usually surrounded by fences. The Chinese slept in tents. The Chinese people had their own area to sleep and it was usually surrounded by fences.

Law and Order Before the gold rushes there was only 44 soldiers and a handful of police to control all the miners but in 1852 this changed. Before the gold rushes there was only 44 soldiers and a handful of police to control all the miners but in 1852 this changed. In 1852 each goldfield was run by a commissioner, clerk and inspector of police. In 1852 each goldfield was run by a commissioner, clerk and inspector of police. Some areas had a special army or police force just in case the miners caused trouble. Some areas had a special army or police force just in case the miners caused trouble.

Law and Order Every miner needed a licence. Miners were fined the equivalent of ten dollars for not having a licence, thirty dollars if caught again and if caught a third time the miners were fined sixty dollars. Every miner needed a licence. Miners were fined the equivalent of ten dollars for not having a licence, thirty dollars if caught again and if caught a third time the miners were fined sixty dollars. Much of the police force was made up of ex- convicts from Van Diesman’s land (Tasmania) and most of the police force to tried their luck as a miners. Much of the police force was made up of ex- convicts from Van Diesman’s land (Tasmania) and most of the police force to tried their luck as a miners.

Clothing Because the miners worked for long hours their clothes got really worn out. Because the miners worked for long hours their clothes got really worn out. They really only wore White shirts, straw hats, coats, gloves, and hard wearing pants. Some wore boots some wore shoes but most of them could not afford shoes or boots so they had to go barefoot. They really only wore White shirts, straw hats, coats, gloves, and hard wearing pants. Some wore boots some wore shoes but most of them could not afford shoes or boots so they had to go barefoot. The Chinese wore baggy pants and large coolie hats. The Chinese wore baggy pants and large coolie hats.

Health There was little medical help on the goldfields so the health of the diggers wasn’t very good. There was little medical help on the goldfields so the health of the diggers wasn’t very good. Diggers didn’t shower or bathe very often especially in summer because the water was very dirty. Diggers didn’t shower or bathe very often especially in summer because the water was very dirty.

Food Food on the goldfields was very poor and most of the people ate damper. Damper was a food that miners made themselves. It is like bread – cooked over an open fire. Food on the goldfields was very poor and most of the people ate damper. Damper was a food that miners made themselves. It is like bread – cooked over an open fire. Fruit and vegetables were rare and not many people ate them therefore the miners didn’t get the vitamins and minerals their bodies needed Fruit and vegetables were rare and not many people ate them therefore the miners didn’t get the vitamins and minerals their bodies needed The miners, diggers and panners had to catch their own food for example: trout, tuna, meat etc. The miners, diggers and panners had to catch their own food for example: trout, tuna, meat etc. The diggers ate any type of meat that they could find on the goldfields. The diggers ate any type of meat that they could find on the goldfields. The diggers kept there food fresh by either salting the food in short time of killing. The diggers kept there food fresh by either salting the food in short time of killing. Alcohol was a big problem on the goldfields. Alcohol was a big problem on the goldfields.

Equipment The people on the goldfields usually used pans because they were cheap, easy to use and they were light weight. The people on the goldfields usually used pans because they were cheap, easy to use and they were light weight. The miners used picket axes in the mines to crack rock. Spades were a good tool to use when you wanted to dig for gold. The miners used picket axes in the mines to crack rock. Spades were a good tool to use when you wanted to dig for gold. Mining companies used dynamite. Mining companies used dynamite.