Victoria is famous around the world for gold and our history is closely linked to gold mining.

Gold was discovered at Ballarat in 1851, starting Victoria’s gold rush. Thousands of people came every week to try their luck.

Between 1852 and 1853, Ballarat was the richest goldfield in the world. Nearby Bendigo grew from a sheep farm into a busy town of 40,000 people in just one year.

People came from all over the world, bringing new skills, ideas, and cultures. The rush brought huge wealth, and Melbourne became known as “Marvellous Melbourne”, compared with great cities like Paris and London.

The gold rush changed Victoria forever, shaping the places we live in and the culture we share today.