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The Tuapeka Goldfields, Otago, New Zealand, 1862. Creator: W Thomas
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The Tuapeka Goldfields, Otago, New Zealand, 1862. Creator: W Thomas
The Tuapeka Goldfields, Otago, New Zealand, 1862. The province received a great impetus in June, last year, by the discovery of goldfields situated on a stream called the Tuapeka...The immediate effect was to attract immigrants from Australia and from the neighbouring New Zealand provinces, and since then the population of Otago has doubled, being now estimated at upwards of 25, 000. In the space of little more than half a year...gold to the value of more than a million sterling had been exported from Dunedin, and that small body of settlers have suddenly found themselves raised to circumstances of affluence...There are still in the province some 8000 square miles of country where the foot of a white man has never trod, and of these 2000 square miles have recently been explored, and are now mapped out for settlement. The total white population of New Zealand was at the census of 1860 83, 919. The Maori or native population is estimated as nearly the same, but it is decreasing as rapidly as the other is increasing'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862
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Media ID 35123565
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Coal Miner Colony Gold Mine Gold Mining Gold Rush Goldmine Imperialism Invader Invaders Invasion Mine Miner Miners Mining Population Settler Settlers Tent Tents Thomas W Valley W Thomas British Empire Illustrated London News Population Density White And Black
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph, titled 'The Tuapeka Goldfields, Otago, New Zealand, 1862' by W. Thomas, offers a glimpse into the transformative period of New Zealand's history. The Tuapeka Goldfields, located in Otago, New Zealand, became a focal point of international attention and immigration in 1861, following the discovery of gold in the region. The Tuapeka River, previously an insignificant stream, suddenly attracted thousands of prospectors from Australia and neighboring New Zealand provinces, leading to a significant population boom in Otago. The province, which had a population of approximately 12,500 in 1861, had doubled to over 25,000 by the end of the year. The sudden wealth brought about by the gold rush led to a surge in prosperity for the settlers, with over one million sterling worth of gold being exported from Dunedin alone. The photograph captures the bustling scene of the goldfields, with miners panning for gold in the river and tents and makeshift structures scattered across the landscape. The vast expanse of undeveloped land in the background, amounting to 8,000 square miles, further underscores the potential for growth and opportunity in the region. At the time, New Zealand's total white population was 83,919, with an estimated native Maori population of nearly the same size. However, the rapid increase in white settlers was leading to a significant demographic shift, with the Maori population decreasing as the European population grew. This photograph is an evocative reminder of the profound impact that the gold rush had on New Zealand's history and the lives of its people.
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