Chapter 4 Australian History

Chapter 4:   Envisaging a new nation

Chapter 4 discusses the further progression of what would become an independent, federated nation: Australia. This chapter explores the hopes and fears of the colonists, celebrations, white Australia, the labour movement and the development of a national sense of identity.
The gold rushes were now faded and society was now to resume regular living. As a result of the gold rush, towns Ballarat and Bendigo were established and prospered.   The beneficiaries of the gold rush would return to Melbourne and Sydney which also benefited from the gold rush. Both cities were expanded.   Both Sydney and Melbourne became ‘world cities’ and consisted of public libraries, art galleries, museums, universities and suburban mechanic institutes. Paddle Steamers were the mode of transportation of goods between South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales until the late 1880’s.   Eventually railways replaced paddle steamers because it was a faster method of transportation for goods. Up until the 1860’s, there were no structured education facilities for children, but because of increases in population groups began to insist on compulsory eduction, but more importantly free education.   1886 saw New South Wales introduce an Education Act which provided children free primary education in government schools.
In 1888, New South Wales celebrated 100 years of settlement. Festivities took place in the newly named Centennial Park.   The major focus of the celebrations was based on the success of progression of the past 100 years. However, not everyone in New South Wales celebrated the historical day.   The reasons cited are because the hype and economic success of the gold rush was now diminished and export prices had begun to fall. The British government no longer invested capital in Australia. The economy in New South Wales was slowing and headed for a depression. Other colonies were at most lukewarm to this celebration. South Australia, for example...