Women on the Goldfields
Women's Work on the Goldfields
In the 1850's when Victoria stroke Gold many families came from other countries or states of Australia to achieve their family fortune. Majority of the Gold diggers and people that came to Victoria were males only few were females that came to support their husbands on the gold fields or came alone. Women in Gold sites were often known to stay at home and look after the children or do the housework which consisted of cooking, cleaning, washing and drying clothes. During the goldfields many men struggled to find Gold, leaving the women with very little income to purchase foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Because of the low income many women would sew or knit clothes or they would crow their crops. To help support the family income some women would go into town and look for an available job. Dangerous for Women Life on the goldfields for women was often a huge risk as they faced dangers such as snakes, getting a disease or being assaulted. The goldfields was also a concern for women who were pregnant as many Medical facilities weren't around, any women who was delivering a baby would either have to depend on the women around her or would have to go through the process alone. From the low supply of medical equipment the delivery would often result in the mother passing away. Starting Out on the Gold Fields When the goldfields commenced in Victoria there were roughly about 10 women as apposed to 600 men. Women on the goldfields weren't considered important as men believed they weren't suitable for looking for gold. Whilst women weren't respected in the goldfields they were treated with greater respect in Victoria as apposed to England. Significant Women and Democracy The Men in the goldfields were the ones who were mainly involved with democracy as women weren't given the same rights. Women were hardly herd from, when it came to ideas on how to run the gold diggings. Some significant women such as Ellen Clacy showed that women were also just as capable as men in the goldfields. Ellen Clacy ,along with her brother, came to the Victorian goldfields from England. Ellen's father had been struggling financially so he sent Ellen and her his eldest son Frederick to the goldfields to gain back their family fortune. Whilst Ellen would do the usual housework, involving cleaning, cooking etc and gold panning she also happened to keep a diary in which she wrote about her experiences on the goldfields and her journey in Australia. After Ellen and her brother had returned to England she then started a literary career, writing for newspapers and magazines. By Taylah |
Resources:
Women on the goldfields[internet]. <http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-56_u-419_t-1069_c-4119/women-on-the-goldfields/qld/sose-history/gold-fever-and-the-eureka-rebellion/daily-life>(accessed on 29th of April) Coghlan, E.(2014). Women's contribution to Democracy [Internet]. <http://eureka-and-democracy.weebly.com/women-in-the-goldrush.html>( accessed on the 4th of May) Bassett, T. (2015). At the Circulating Library [internet]. <http://www.victorianresearch.org/atcl/show_author.php?aid=2410>(accessed on the 8th of May) Women on the goldfields [internet]. <http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explore-history/golden-victoria/life-fields/women-goldfields>(accessed on the 8th of May) |