Gold Changed Everything

Marion LittlejohnEducation Officer

Sovereign Hill Museums

Session description in programme

For your depth study Making a Better World, why not look at progressive ideas and movements through the experience of immigrants on the goldfields? A study of mid-nineteenth century experiences in Victoria involves capitalism, socialism, egalitarianism, nationalism, imperialism, Darwinism, and Chartism as gold became the catalyst which transformed lives. Indeed it could be said ‘Gold changed everything!’Year 9

Charles Darwin, aged 45 in 1854, by then working towards publication of On the Origin of Species

1838 Oliver Twist1839 Nicholas Nickleby1841 The Old Curiosity Shop1843 A Christmas Carol1849 David Copperfield1850 began his weekly

journal Household Words.

Charles Dickens1812 - 1870