LIFE ON THE GOLDFIELDS
Issues as a digger
Every hour of every day many diggers would come across numerous issues:
- Rivalry and jealousy was a major issue for the diggers as 50% of the population of men in Victoria 1852 were digging for gold. Rivalry often broke tight and important bonds between one another. Some diggers would band together in groups throughout the day (i.e. some would clean and look after tent and possessions and others would dig for gold) and any earnings would be divided amongst each other. However, some diggers would betray their own group and not notify them of any gold found. They would also act in small groups within their group to flee with their gold while the others were working at the tent.
- The authorities made the days on the goldfields living hell. Their strict rules enabled them to do basically anything to them because they could. They also implemented harsh taxes and the need to pay for a digging license. If a digger was caught without licence, he would be finned and have his hut/tent and all equipment destroyed or taken away.
- Because of the large amount of demand for food, tools, supplies and machinery, suppliers would put a very expensive price on the items because they wanted the money and the diggers could do nothing about it as they badly needed them. Most of the shops were inside the towns and far from the goldfields so it was even more difficult to get their supplies