How did the Australian gold rush affect Aborigines?
There were some reasonably successful diggers among the Aborigines on the goldfields, but they saw little value in gold for themselves. Gold not be eaten; it could not be used in any practical ways. The Aborigines benefitted more by offering their services as guides to potential diggers looking for new sites. Also, with the wave of workers leaving sheep and cattle stations for the goldfields, Aborigines had better prospects with employment there, rather than the goldfields. See the link below for more information on how Aborigines benefitted from the gold rush.
