The History of Australian Mining Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The History of Australian Mining - Assignment Example Even in those early years trading routes were established which crisscrossed the country. The people also used coal for cooking and heating and it is mentioned in the dream stories of the Awabakal people who lived in the area of modern Newcastle. Modern day mining though began following the arrival of European settlers on the east coast seaboard in 1788. In the early days of the new colony Hawkesbury sandstone was quarried and shaped of use in early buildings at Sydney Cove. The incomers soon spread and the first discovery of coal occurred near Newcastle area in 1791, due to the activities of runaway convicts, including William Bryant. This discovery led to further investigations of possible sources and within a few years coal was being mined in several areas both north and South of Sydney. At first ship owners only collected coal from the surface at New castle. This they then shipped from 1798 onwards to the larger community at Sydney. The following year enough coal was available to allow its export to India. Half a century later in April 1851 gold was found by gold was made by John Lister and William Tom at Ophir, in central New South Wales. An associate of theirs Edward Hargraves, showed their gold to the then Colonial Secretary. It was Hargraves who claimed the reward of  £5000 for its discovery . Lister, Tom and the Rev. W.B. Clarke received only  £500 each. It seems however, according to recently discovered correspondence that the government had already acknowledged that there was gold to be found at Ophir.