Gold Rush, Federation & Modern Australia

The Gold Rush of the 1850s fundamentally changed Australia. The discovery of gold in Bathurst (NSW, 1851) and Ballarat (Victoria, 1851) triggered mass migration: Within 10 years, the population tripled. Gold seekers from China, Ireland, Germany, Italy, and all over the world flocked in. Melbourne became the richest city in the world — the magnificent Victorian buildings still testify to this today.

The Gold Rush also brought democratic movements: The Eureka Stockade (1854) in Ballarat — an armed uprising of the gold miners against unfair license fees — is considered the birthplace of Australian democracy. The blue Eureka flag with the Southern Cross remains a symbol of resistance against injustice.

Federation (1901)

On January 1, 1901, the six colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia — a federal state modeled after the USA, with a constitution that combines British and American elements. Canberra was founded in 1913 as an artificial capital — a compromise between the rivals Sydney and Melbourne.

The White Australia Policy (1901–1973)

One of the darkest sides: The "Immigration Restriction Act" of 1901 restricted immigration to whites. Asians, Pacific Islanders, and others were systematically excluded. It was not until 1973 that the Whitlam government abolished this racist policy and opened Australia to multicultural immigration — a decision that fundamentally changed the country.

Modern Australia

Today, Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world: Almost 30% of the population was born abroad. Sydney and Melbourne are melting pots with influences from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific. The Aboriginal rights movement is making slow progress — the Uluru Statement from the Heart (2017) calls for a "Voice to Parliament" (indigenous voice in parliament).