The rush that never ended

Abstract

Presents the history of mining in Australia from the first nugget of gold found by Hargreaves in the 19th century to the more recent discoveries of iron ore in Western Australia and nickel in South Australia. Interweaves the development of the major mine fields with the resultant boom in Australia's population, corruption and gambling, unionisation of miners, the reasons behind the stockade at Eureka and the emergence of the capitalist mining companies and the industrial giants. -- Note: Adapted by Terence McMahon from the book 'The Rush that Never Ended' by Geoffrey Blainey. -- Producer, director, Terence McMahon; photographers, David Olney, John Ellson, John Bowring; editor, Robert Martin; sound, Geoffrey White, Darryl Davis.