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In the early years of the gold rush there were few women at any of the goldfields. A few women were diggers, and some were shopkeepers at the diggings. Only a few women went at the start, but most stayed home with their children, usually with very little money. Many women took their children and joined their husbands a few years later, when conditions improved. However, there were always more men than women at the goldfields, and it was a hard life for all.
Women's work
Women's work consisted of washing, ironing and cooking. They made bread, butter, jams, soap and clothes for the family.The living conditions were cramped, and there were few comforts at the diggings. Because the alluvial mining muddied the once clear creek water, clean drinkable water was hard to find. Often fresh water was carted in to the diggings and sold by the bucketful. Fresh vegetables and fruit were scarce and cost a lot.
Childbirth
Usually
when a woman had a baby, she was assisted by other women. There
was little in the way of medical assistance in cases of illness
or to assist the women in childbirth. Many women died while giving
birth. Epidemics of illnesses such as diptheria, whooping cough,
measles, typhoid and scarlet fever swept through the goldfields,
and many men, women and children died.
The wealthy
Bendigo goldfields were 
found by a woman, Margaret Kennedy, who saw gold in the creek bed in September 1851. She and a friend washed the gold using a breadmaking pan. Within a few months, there were about 20,000 people searching for gold in that area.
There were women among the entertainers who travelled around performing at the various goldfields. The most famous of these was Lola Montez. She was very popular, and was showered with gold nuggets by the diggers whenever she finished a performance. She was famous for her Spider Dance.
Acknowledge this source in
your bibliography like this:
Gold! (2007). [Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au
| Page 1: Gold! | Page 2: Searching for Gold |
| Page 3: Life on the Australian Goldfields | Page 5: Chinese at the Goldfields |
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