LIFE ON THE GOLD FIELDS

By Mohammed.A

WHERE DID PEOPLE LIVE

People lived in tents on the goldfields. Then most of the miners dug in lower ground then they put their campsites up on the higher ground. When the campsites got bigger they made huts out of wood and

bark.

After, they made stores, houses and even a jail. Government camps made houses for the soldiers, out of wood.

Life was still very harsh on the goldfields. People were squished in small homes and also had lots of fights over things. People also got very sick with diseases because there wasn’t much clean water.

WHAT THEY WORE

On the Gold Fields there was nothing that was shiny and modern women would wear a dress that would be brown

or black and the children would wear a dress till they are older. The men wore a long sleeved shirt, big boots

trousers. They barely had baths or they never change there clothes they got stinky and the clothes were slowly

fading and getting worn out.

WHAT THEY ATE There wasn’t a lot of fresh food there so people ate mutton, and damper (a dough

bread made out of flour, water and salt) and drank tea. These were cooked on s open

fire.

WHAT JOBS WERE DONE

In the Goldfields people used wood to build. They built a place

for soldiers to live in and also built a store. There was also

shops to sell mining equipment.

WHO WENT TO THE GOLD FIELDS

Thousands of people left there home and jobs to go find gold thinking

they will get rich. People thought they would become rich but most people

didn’t find gold. At the start of the gold rush, there was no roads to the

goldfields. People had to carry everything they needed. People travelled by

horse or bullock or wheelbarrow. First the men went but after few months

women joined. But there was a bit of women there.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR THE WOMEN

It was hard for women because all they did is cook and wash

but some sang and danced for the diggers. They also had to

make bread, butter, jams, soap and cloths for the family. A bit

of women helped there husband dig and find gold. If a women

was pregnant she would be assisted by another women. Most

women's died by giving birth. Many men, women and children

died.