12 February 1851: the Australian gold rush

On this day. in 1851 gold prospector Edward Hargraves discovered a grain of gold in New South Wales, and sparked Australia’s first gold rush.

On this day in 1851, Edward Hargraves discovered a grain of gold' in New South Wales, and started Australia's first gold rush. It was to last the best part of 30 years and come to be described as the founding of a nation.

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