Editing History of Australia (section)

==== The gold rushes of the 1850s ====
[[File:Mr E.H. Hargraves, The Gold Discoverer of Australia, Feb 12th 1851 returning the salute of the gold miners - Thomas Tyrwhitt Balcombe.jpg|left|thumb|''Mr E.H. Hargraves, The Gold Discoverer of Australia, Feb 12th 1851 returning the salute of the gold miners'' – Thomas Tyrwhitt Balcombe]]

In February 1851, [[Edward Hammond Hargraves|Edward Hargraves]] discovered gold near [[Bathurst, New South Wales]]. Further discoveries were made later that year in Victoria, where the richest gold fields were found. New South Wales and Victoria introduced a gold mining licence with a monthly fee, the revenue being used to offset the cost of providing infrastructure, administration and policing of the goldfields.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Goodman|first=David|title=The Cambridge History of Australia, Volume I|year=2013|pages=170–76|chapter=The gold rushes of the 1850s}}</ref>

The gold rush initially caused inflation and labour shortages as male workers moved to the goldfields. Immigrants poured in from Britain, Europe, the United States and China, many of whom sought to go to the goldfields. The Australian population increased from 430,000 in 1851 to 1,170,000 in 1861. Victoria became the most populous colony and Melbourne the largest city.<ref>Macintyre, Stuart (2020). pp. 95–96</ref><ref>Goodman, David (2013). "The gold rushes of the 1850s". ''The Cambridge History of Australia, Volume I''. pp.&nbsp;180–81</ref>

Chinese migration was a particular concern for colonial officials due to the widespread belief that it represented a danger to white Australian living standards and morality. Colonial governments responded by imposing taxes and restrictions on Chinese migrants and residents. Anti-Chinese riots erupted on the Victorian goldfields in 1856 and in New South Wales in 1860.<ref>Goodman, David (2013). "The gold rushes of the 1850s". ''The Cambridge History of Australia, Volume I''. pp.&nbsp;182–84</ref>