VI - INDUSTRIES

Summary

The immediate effect of the gold discoveries on all industries other than mining was harmful. Large numbers of men threw up their ordinary employments and went to the goldfields, most of the others stood ready to leave their work without warning; in many places stations were deserted, farms left uncared for, and factories brought to a standstill. This was the condition during the latter half of 1851 and the greater part of 1852. Towards the close of the last-mentioned year there was a considerable recovery, and thenceforward, to the end of the period, there was a marked advance in the industrial development of every colony.

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL PURSUITS

In New South Wales during 1850 the breadth of tillage was little short of 200,000 acres, which was a more considerable area than had previously been cultivated. In 1852 the area under crop fell back to about 130,000 acres, and great difficulty was experienced in gathering the crops even from this reduced area. The farmers suffered a further drawback as, owing to the demands of the mining population, vehicles of all descriptions were taken away from their ordinary use and employed in carrying stores, timber, machinery, and other material to the goldfields, and in all cases it was difficult, in some well-nigh impossible, for farmers to obtain carriage for their produce to market.