Australia's population during gold rush years

Prospector's Hut, Upper Dargo, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia in 1870.

During the gold rush era between 1850 to 1870, Victoria dominated the world's gold output.

Australia's population increased dramatically mainly due to the gold discoveries with people trying to 'strike it rich'. In 1851 the Australian population was 437,655 and 10 years later it had grown to 1,151,947.

Find out more about the gold rush in Australia.