Part 1: Gold Rush
This video introduces the viewer to the impact the discovery of gold had on the new colony of Victoria, and the implications it had on the economy of Melbourne, to the decisions of Governor La Trobe.
This could be watched in conjunction with the activities found on the Race to the Goldfields of Australia Game, the Gold Rush page and because of the rapid population growth Gold Licence Fee page.
Prompts for the students to listen for:
- When was the gold discovery committee convened?
- What was the purpose of the gold discovery committee?
- How much was the reward for finding gold?
- What was the population of Melbourne in 1860?
- How many days on average was the voyage to Australia?
- What was the weekly rent for a tent in Canvas Town?
Part 2: Welcome to Melbourne: A migrant's first impression
This video reveals the welcome the migrants received when they arrived in Victoria after their long journey by ship, and their first thoughts of Melbourne.
Activities from the pages Gold Rush and the Accounts from Canvas Town from Ellen Clacy, Richard Henry Home and Seweryn Korzelinski could be used here.
Answers for the students to listen for:
- How was Melbourne described? (Some magnificent buildings, a wild colonial town where wooden shanty buildings lean precariously, packs of dogs roaming around, men carrying guns and knives in their belts. Dust, flies, mud, swamps, disease, alcohol, and bushrangers travelling the roads and countryside just outside town).
- List some of Richard Henry Home's concerns (cost of the boat, being taken to the wrong place, lack of clean accommodation, insects and quality of the food).
Part 3: Canvas Town
Canvas Town illustrates the tent township developed by Governor La Trobe to deal with the housing crisis facing Melbourne, as a result of the rapid population growth due to the Gold Rush. It describes the living conditions in Canvas Town, such as poor sanitation, tent accommodation, poor quality and expensive food, medical help and the travelling entertainment tents. These conditions however, would have also been experienced in mining towns.
This video is relevant for the pages Canvas Town Primary Sources and Canvas Town Diorama as follow-up activities.
Things for students to listen for:
- List the conditions of Canvas Town covered in the video (multicultural aspects, food, accommodation, food, sanitation, sly grog trade, medical, entertainment, lawlessness).
- The sections relating to Richard, Seweryn and Ellen portrayed by the actors, were from their reflections published in their books. Think about what the characters were saying. What do you think about each of the characters? How helpful were their observations in understanding the conditions of Canvas Town and the goldfields?