Post 4 Women on the goldfields
ideaswithanne.com During the early 1850s, there weren’t many women on the Victorian goldfields, due to the harsh conditions and the many social impediments they faced. However, by 1854, Ballarat had a population of nearly 35% women – about 10% higher than was typical across the Australian colonies. With people flooding into the colonies in search of gold, some women chose to accompany their husbands or brothers, not just for domestic duties but to also work on the diggings alongside their menfolk. Although living in a tent was rough, the men did try to take account of the women by portioning off part of the tent where the women could sleep and maintain privacy.
Ellen Clacy’s ‘A Lady’s’ visit to the Gold Diggings of Australia’ is an important resource concerning the experiences of immigrant women in colonial Victoria. Her account of life on the goldfields is fascinating for the way in which she details the challenges faced by women who arrived with their families. The book can be read online using this link: Click here.