Europeans on the Goldfields
A miner’s life was not easy. He worked hard digging for gold, often under very dangerous conditions. Mostly they found nothing, just enough to cover their expenses. Many went from place to place in search but were almost always disappointed.
Conditions on the field were poor. Most miners lived in tents, which could easily be moved. They didn’t have time to grow and produce their own food so they had to buy it.
At the end of the day, miners often got together to sing, gamble or drink. Alcohol was forbidden on the fields, but some shops sold it anyway. The miners used to fight a lot. Very few women came to the goldfields.
The diggers’ daily diet was very boring – just mutton, damper and tea. Fruit and vegetables were rare. During summer, water was dirty and often in short supply. In winter, the diggings were cold, sometimes even under snow, and diggers would work for hours knee-deep in water and soaking wet.
When a digger found lots of gold, he would hide it. Some buried it in the soil beneath their tents, but it wasn't always safe there. Where a group of men worked together, one would often stay a the tent all day to keep guard. Other minders used ferocious dogs to guard their hard-earned gold. When banks were established in places such as Ballarat and Bendigo, the diggers could deposit their gold in the bank.
Conditions on the field were poor. Most miners lived in tents, which could easily be moved. They didn’t have time to grow and produce their own food so they had to buy it.
At the end of the day, miners often got together to sing, gamble or drink. Alcohol was forbidden on the fields, but some shops sold it anyway. The miners used to fight a lot. Very few women came to the goldfields.
The diggers’ daily diet was very boring – just mutton, damper and tea. Fruit and vegetables were rare. During summer, water was dirty and often in short supply. In winter, the diggings were cold, sometimes even under snow, and diggers would work for hours knee-deep in water and soaking wet.
When a digger found lots of gold, he would hide it. Some buried it in the soil beneath their tents, but it wasn't always safe there. Where a group of men worked together, one would often stay a the tent all day to keep guard. Other minders used ferocious dogs to guard their hard-earned gold. When banks were established in places such as Ballarat and Bendigo, the diggers could deposit their gold in the bank.
Activity Time
Your task is to use VOKI to create a character that portrays a European digger. Using either your own voice recording or text-to-voice, your VOKI needs to talk for 1 minute about their life on the goldfields. You will show your VOKI to the class.
A) A time machine has been invented so that you can travel back to the 1800's. Your task is to interview a European miner that works on the goldfield. Your interview needs to include at least 10 questions and answers. Work with a partner and present the interview to the class (one person plays the interviewer, the other person plays the European miner).
B) Imagine you are a European living during the gold rush era. You stumble across a huge nugget of gold which is worth a fortune. What would you do with your new found wealth? (at least one page)
A) A time machine has been invented so that you can travel back to the 1800's. Your task is to interview a European miner that works on the goldfield. Your interview needs to include at least 10 questions and answers. Work with a partner and present the interview to the class (one person plays the interviewer, the other person plays the European miner).
B) Imagine you are a European living during the gold rush era. You stumble across a huge nugget of gold which is worth a fortune. What would you do with your new found wealth? (at least one page)