History of Victoria Gold Mines - Essay Example

istоry of Mining in Аustrаliа Rеsеаrсh Name Course Instructor Date History of Victoria Gold Mines Gold is one of the minerals produced in Australia with Victoria being a leading ancient source. The discovery of gold in Australia revolutionalized the state which was previously regarded as a detention destination for prisoners. Today Australia is among the world’s elite country while Victoria is a top developed, in terms of infrastructure and ethnic diversity. Gold mining in Victoria can be traced back to 19th Century. Gold was first discovered in New South Wales in 1823 by James McBrien, a public officer who was then was travelling to survey hills near the Fish River, east of Bathurst (Cienciaviva.pt, 2012). However, the onset of mining was occasioned by the February 12, 1851 announcement in New South Wales that Edward Hargraves discovered a gold field in Bathrust. The discoverer was therefore rewarded with $ 10,000. Later on discoveries of gold continued in other places. For instance, gold was found in Ballarat and Bendigo towns. These discoveries set stage for wider exploration, a process popular as Victoria god rush or Australia gold rush. This has gone to the extent in which several landscapes have changed while rivers have been directed to take different course to allow for more extraction. This also heightened by the rapid migration of foreigners especially from Europe to Australia who settled near gold mines to extract riches. Bannear (2007) outlines that within a short period of time ( September, 1851), residents of Ballart town had gained experience and dig up substantial quantity of gold by drilling down the ground as low as 12 metres. It is estimated that they could bring forth incredibly up to 225g of the mineral per dish! The extent of extraction was rapid that within a very short time, Ballart city became congested with people who were immigrants. This was to an extent that within months the surface alluvial gold was getting depleted. Annual production of gold in Victoria reached its peak at 82.25tonnes in 1857. However, it fell below 30t within 20 years (i.e. in 1977). By the close of 1970s it had fallen to around 0.25tons per year. In the recent days, however, it has slightly gone up with the 2008-9 annual production at about 7.26 tonnes. Majority of gold mining grounds of Victoria lie within a range of between 80 and 240 kilometres to the north and west of Melbourne city majority of which existed in 1850s. Examples of these sites include grounds at Beechworth (1852), the Ovens Valley, plus East Gippsland (1851). Another crucial area was the Mt Alexander field at Forest Creek, now Castlemine which was closed in 1869.  The last Victorian gold rush occurred in 1904 at Mafeking at the bottom of Mt William in the western district of Victoria. Impact of Gold mining in Victoria Gold mining in Victoria has fetched wide impact to the locals and the Australian economy. Most impacts are beneficial while others have been detrimental to the environment surrounding and beyond the mines. Environmental Impact The implications of gold mining to the environment are numerous. To start with, mines interfere with weathering process and soil profile making the soil susceptible to erosion agents. Toxic chemicals used in the mining such as mercury have contaminated both surface and ground water. It should be noted that, these chemicals leak to the environment spontaneously hence their effect is difficult to control. Forest logging is reportedly done in some mining sites to create lager space for storage of the mineral during mining. The health implications of gold mining are far reaching. Mudd (2009) adds that environmentalists required mining firms to follow stringent procedures in order to safeguard the environment and to enable its rehabilitation. Such procedures are difficult to observe and usually limit the extent of exploration of the mineral. In support, Klerk et, al., (2002), extensively describes the mechanisms the government employed in order to limit infections of silicosis, a respiratory diseases associated with mine sites. The policies worked on one side to better the health of miners while on the other, limited mining vigour thereby slowing down direct impact on the economy. Social and cultural impact Gold mining attracted millions of immigrants to Australia. Bertola, et, al. (2003’ pp 3-9) contend that during the 1850's alone, Australia's population shot from below 400,000 settlers to over 1 million people majority who came from the European countries. This influx made Australia became a multicultural state offering the basis of its present day heritage. A great deal of Australian’s heritage was crafted from the mines. The feeling of equality and fair treatment is believed to have originated with the ancient miners who regarded one another as equal partners. Beauchamp(2011; p 7) adds that many Australians today believe in hard work, a culture that stemmed from the difficult mining chore. Collaboration or joint partnership kind of operations observed among many Ausies is linked to those of early miners who emulated team spirit.. This was evident during the 2nd world war where Australian soldiers were christened 'diggers' in reference to their mining ancestors.. Aussie troops were famous for having collective responsibility on matters pertaining individual’s safety. Economic impact The economic impact of Gold mining in Victoria is far reaching. With income on the rise during the early periods of mining, wages were high since labour was scarce. To raise money, many property owners put their houses on the market to sell. Prices for houses went down as . Due to the high wages and strained businesses. However, this never lasted. With rapid flow of gold from the many mines in Victoria, immigrants from Europe and china came in large numbers. The larger population provided the labour and were paid well. According to Magdal (2008), wealth poured in Australia to unthinkable levels. Commerce was practised with other continents and regions with new goods (imports) arriving. Infrastructural advancements such as the construction of roads begun in mining tows like Ballart & Bendeve. Incidences of crime also went up. Criminals dominated roads along mineral deposits cases of theft, murder and other forms of crime were common. Ofosu-Mensah (2011; p6) concurs that with insecurity on the rise in mining areas, the industry is liable to a collapse. The mining industry was definitely brought down by the rising insecurity not long after it flourished. Nevertheless, it goes in history that Victoria City alone produced close to one third the world gold export in the 1950s. Origin of miners in Victoria According to Davey (1984), miners in search of fortune came from Sydney and Melbourne. Beechworth, Ballarat and Bendigo were the most prominent miners' towns. Miners trekked on horseback or on coach to reach these towns, and from there to their goldfields. Children were treated as little more than short adults. If they were physically capable, and since the family circumstances were not good without schools, children were expected to work. By 1852, there were about 12,000 children in the mines of Victoria, most of who helped their parents in their mines. Conditions, however, improved leading to the start of schools. Developmental Impact of the Victoria Gold mines According to Southaustralianhistory.com (2012), before the gold rush, Australia was more of an extension of the British Empire where convicts were sent to fill the colonies. However, upon the discovery of gold, millions migrated in and settled establishing permanent homes in Australia . For example, within 10 years of 1951, more immigrants arrived in Australia than the total number of convicts sent to Australia over the previous 70 years. In fact, it is observed that the discovery of gold in Victoria brought to an end the transportation of prisoners to Australia. This resulted from the realization that sending prisoners to Australia was not a form of punishment, rather it was like granting them an opportunity to access gold riches. Bertola et, al., (2003; p16) outlines that in 1850, the population of Victoria was about 76,000. Within 10 years, it had increased to 540,000. This statistic alone suggests the extent to which the gold rush became popular and the number of interested persons, merchants, adventurers, miners and workers, who migrated to Australia within this short period of time. Chinese immigrants settled to establish “Chinatowns” in Australia. In addition, the available labour provided by the immigrants together with the riches ensured infrastructural development in Australia. Processing industries were established, banks developed while commerce was enhanced. The ultimate result was a rapid development of major towns in Australia. Present day Gold mining in Victoria Gold mining still continues in Victoria. Beauchamp(2011;p 23-25) outlines that several companies have operated the Victoria mines. In the modern day, Stawell Gold Mines operates the mining. The company is located in the Australian State of Victoria, 250km northwest of Melbourne and 2km from the township of Stawell. Stawell Gold Mines has been in operation for over 25 years, developing a highly experienced workforce. Many contractors, also having a long association with the mine, are available in the township of Stawell and surrounding regions. The presence of mining sites within the Stawell town has led to infrastructural development in the town. Within the township is a police station, hospital, schools and shops. Mains Electricity and water is also accessible. The mining areas currently extend over approximately 3km of strike to more than 1,500m below surface, measured from the top of Big Hill. In conclusion, the discovery of gold in Victoria and other towns of Australia greatly changed the fortunes of the state which was regarded as a detention camp for prisoners. It resulted in a rapid development of infrastructures in the state making one of the world’s tourist destinations today. The mineral , alongside others, necessitated the migration of European and Chinese setters bringing forth a country without indigenous culture, but a culture crafted out of civilization. In spite of this, the vast benefits of Victoria mining cannot mask the significant health implications related to the mineral. From intoxication by chemicals used in the mines to the erosion and landslide caused by weak soil structures and damping in rivers, the effects are far reaching. Reference list Bannear D. (2007).Heritage Gold, Ruins and the Victorian Way. [Online]: http://www.ausimm.com.au/content/docs/heritage_d_bannear.pdf Beauchamp, C. (2011). History of mining. Journal of Australasian Mining History. Volume 9. September 2011. http://www.mininghistory.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/titlesabstractsweb.pdf Bertola, P. Depression and Surviving: Gold Mining at Kalgoorlie from World War 1 to 1931 Carment, D. Davies, M Fox, C. Hart P. … & Wegner, J. (2003). History of Australasia mining . Journal of Australasian Mining History. Volume 1 September 2003 Number 1. [online]: http://www.mininghistory.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/titlesabstractsweb.pdf Cienciaviva.pt (2012). Introduction to Mining. [Online] http://www.cienciaviva.pt/img/upload/Introduction%20to%20mining.pdf De Klerk, N. G. L. Ambrosini, G. Pang, S & Musk, A.,(2002) Silicosis Compensation in Western Australian Gold Miners Since the Introduction of an Occupational Exposure Standard for Crystalline Silica.  Oxford Journals Life Sciences & Medicine the Annals of Occupational Hygiene Volume 46, Issue 8 Pp. 687-692. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mef088 Magdal, F. 2008. The Expansion of Gold Industry – Australia. 2nd Edition. Oxford UP. Ofosu-Mensah, E.A (2011). Gold mining and the socio-economic development of Obuasi in Adanse. African Journal of History and Culture Vol. 3(4), pp. 54-64, May 2011. Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJHC Mudd G, M. (2009). The Sustainability of Mining in Australia: Key Production Trends and Their Environmental Implications for the Future. [Online]: http://users.monash.edu.au/~gmudd/files/SustMining-Aust-Report-2009-Master.pdf Southaustralianhistory.com (2012). The effect of the Victorian gold rushes on South Australia. 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