Education Blog
Latest posts
By Cath
12 Mar 2013
By Cath
26 Oct 2012
By Robert
20 Sep 2012
Interactive
The Gold Rush (2.1mb) (requires Flash)Does the sight of gold make your palms itchy? Give them a scratch by mining for gold in the Ballarat goldfields of 1865.
For 8-12 year olds.
Overview
Take yourself back to the Ballarat goldfields of 1865 and mine for gold. Your mission is to use limited financial resources to select and buy food, shelter and other requirements related to gold mining at the time to complete a successful dig.
You may choose to dig by either alluvial or shaft mining, and must buy a miner's permit, equipment and supplies appropriate for your chosen mining method. Prices are given in pounds and shillings and a currency converter allows you to convert amounts to current dollar values.
As you start your dig on the goldfields, you receive feedback advising whether or not your purchases have been appropriate. By completing this interactive, you will recognise the challenges that miners faced finding gold, and the importance of the Gold Rush era in shaping Australia's population during the mid to late 1800s.
Objects from the Museum's collection used in this interactive include a gold washing cradle, a miner's licence, scales and a digger's brooch.
