The gold era brought sweeping and lasting changes. It produced great wealth and ensured the financial viability of the struggling colonies. It stimulated a dramatic increase to Australia’s population, was the last nail in the coffin for convict transportation, subverted the hierarchical British class system, laid the foundations of the Australian egalitarian ethos and stimulated the democratic ideas that led to the establishment of the nation of Australia. Told by those who were part of the adventure, the book is abundant with original source materials, including diaries, journals, books, letters, official reports, Parliamentary inquiries, press reports, paintings, drawings, and photographs.