The discovery of gold in Australia is traditionally attributed to Edward Hammond Hargraves, near Bathurst, New South Wales, in February 1851.

Traces of gold had nevertheless been found in Australia as early as 1823 by surveyor James McBrien.

As by English law all minerals belong to the Crown, there was at first, "little to stimulate a search for really rich goldfields in a colony prospering under a pastoral economy". (Frances Hale (1983) Wealth beneath the Soil. pp. 3–5. Thomas Nelson. Melbourne.)

Richard Broome (1984) Arriving. p. 69) also argues that the California Gold Rush at first overawed the Australian finds, until "the news of Mount Alexander reached England in May 1852, followed shortly by six ships carrying eight tons of gold".

The gold rushes brings many immigrants to Australia from the British Isles, continental Europe, North America and China.

The Colony of Victoria's population grows rapidly, from seventy-six thousand in 1850 to five hundred and thirty thousand by 1859.

Discontent arises among  diggers almost immediately, particularly on the crowded Victorian fields.

The causes of this are the colonial government's administration of the diggings and the gold license system.

Following a number of protests and petitions for reform, violence erupts at Ballarat in late 1854.