Gold, the Government Camp & Castlemaine
The Colony and its Goldrush
The NSW colony in 1850, which incorporated Victoria known then as the Port Phillip District, had a European population of 75,000, an indigenous population of 2000, and sheep numbering 5,000,000. The Port Phillip District had 23,000 Europeans of that 75,000. Separation from NSW in 1851 coincided with gold finds in Victoria. This phenomenal quantity of Victorian gold cleared the British national debt in 2 years, upended orderly immigration, left Melbourne empty of men for some time, a harbour of ghost ships at anchor funded a lavish building boom, and set in train an Australian democratic movement. By1854 the population was 237,000 and Victoria was transformed in its demographics, culture, politics, and wealth.
Government Camp Tour
This tour of the government camp was conducted in April 2023 to show National Trust representatives and Eureka historians this unique historic precinct. This area of approximately 0.2 km2 has natural creek boundaries to the south and the east, with large old pre-European trees and indigenous plantings. To the west, the government camp is defined by a natural ridgeline. The northern boundary extended beyond Camp Reserve. A full tour of this precinct takes several hours. This tour involved an on-foot component, then a vehicle component. The Castlemaine Historical Society runs guided tours of this historic precinct.