Life on the goldfields: living there

The gold diggings at first resembled tent camps. Even the Gold Commissioner began his career at Ophir in a large tent, as did his small police force. Commissioner Hardy measured out small claim areas for the diggers, issued licences at 30 shillings per month, arbitrated disputes and in general kept very good order. This Primefact describes the experience of living on the goldfields and also addresses the following topics:

• history caught in pictures;
• shopping at the corner store;
• butchers;
• cock-a-doodle-who?
• fare nosh goldfields style;
• new chums;
• churches and community halls;
• in sickness and in health;
• social life.