By his Excellency’s command,

E. FEAS THOMSON.

VICTORIA IN 1854

+Source.+—­The Golden Colony (G.H.  Wathen, 1855), pp. 49-53, 78-81

Even on the spot it is often very difficult to learn when, by whom, and in what manner, a new gold district is first discovered.  When the yield of an old working begins to fail, the diggers throw out small “prospecting” parties of twos and threes, to explore promising localities.  These “prospectors” may occasionally make important discoveries; but far more frequently they are the result of chance, or of the desultory efforts of shepherds and other servants of the settlers resident in the particular locality.  It sometimes happens that a digging party, travelling from one district to another, camp for a night in a valley which they may think looks very promising.  Being delayed here, perhaps, by the loss of their horse, or some other accident, they sink a pit or “hole” in a “likely spot.”  At length some one strikes a rich deposit.  If so, it cannot long remain a secret.  A few dozens or scores are shortly at work on the adjacent ground; and if these too are successful the news spreads like wild-fire, and within a week all the roads and tracks leading to the spot are covered with diggers and their carts, on the way to the new Dorado—­the newest being always by report the best and richest.  In a few days the hills around the new working are dotted over with white tents, the forest around them quickly disappears, being felled for firewood.  Government, on hearing of the discovery, sends down a Commissioner with a body of horse and foot police.  These establish a camp on some central elevated position, and an irregular wide street of tents springs up like magic in the valley below.  There are stores, large and small; butchers’ shops; doctors’ little tents; and innumerable refreshment booths, where, under the guise of selling lemonade and home-made beer, an extensive illicit trade is carried on in vile, adulterated, and often poisonous spirits.  The blacksmith is always one of the first on the ground, and presently extemporises a forge out of a few loose stones or turf-sods.  Flags are flying from the stores and shops, and give gaiety to the scene.  The Union Jack floats proudly above the Government camp on the hill, and military sentinels are on duty before the gold-tent.

As the diggers reach the spot they pitch their tents on the lower slopes of the hills or in the green flats.  At night their watch-fires gleam far and wide, and from a neighbouring height the place has the appearance of a large town illuminated.  A new goldfield is the favourite resort of horse stealers, thieves, and miscreants of all kinds, who, lost in the crowd and confusion, here find ample opportunities for carrying on their nefarious practices.  Their common haunts are the “sly grog-shops” which spring up like weeds on all sides.  Here they rendezvous, and concoct those deeds of darkness which have given the colony such an unenviable fame.