Discoveries of gold at a number of locations in Western Australia  in the latter part of the nineteenth century cause arge influxes of prospectors from overseas and interstate, and classic gold rushes.

Significant finds included:
    Halls Creek in 1885, found by Charles Hall and Jack Slattery. Triggered the "Kimberley gold rush".
    Near Southern Cross in 1887, found by the party of Harry Francis Anstey. The "Yilgarn gold rush".
    Cue in 1891, found by Michael Fitzgerald, Edward Heffernan and Tom Cue. The "Murchison gold rush".
    Coolgardie in 1892, by Arthur Bailey and William Ford.
    Kalgoorlie in 1893, by Patrick "Paddy" Hannan, Tom Flanagan and Dan Shea.

A small rush at Nundamurrah Pool, on the Greenough River, near Mullewa, east of Geraldton occurs in August 1893.

The Kalgoorlie event in particular, following the June 1893 discovery of alluvial gold at the base of Mount Charlotte by Irish prospectors Paddy Hannan, Tom Flanagan and Dan O'Shea, sees a massive population increase and ultimately, brings great wealth to the state.

Capital works, including roads and railways and in 1896, construction of the ambitious Goldfields Water Supply Scheme, come about on the back of the gold rushes.

The population in Western Australia in 1891 is 49,782. By 1895 it has doubled to 100,515, and by 1901 is 184,124.
 

The far-reaching nature of the mining excitement drawa men from all over the world in 1895.

People immigrated from Africa and America, Great Britain and Europe, China and India, New Zealand and the South Sea Islands, and from mining centrers in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia.

There is a total of 29,523 immigrants (24,173 males and 5,350 females) in 1895, while the emigration amounts to 11,129, leaving Western Australia the gainer by 18,394 persons.

The population of the colony in 1895 is 101,235, made up of 69,727 males and 31,508 females.

The immigration in December wis greater than that of any preceding month, and totals 4,540.

Most of these people caome from the Eastern colonies, which are still greatly depressed.
    — W.B. Kimberly, ed. (1897). History of West Australia. p. 322.

These previously unexplored eastern districts are hot and barren and have limited natural water supplies or pre-existing infrastructure to support sudden influxes of people.

As a result, all supplies have to be carted, either from Perth or Esperance.

Carted water is sold for up to five shillings per gallon.