Since ancient times gold has exerted a powerful fascination for humankind. Symbol of wealth and riches, it has influenced the rise and fall of empires and changed the course of history. In Australia, its discovery sparked frenzied gold rushes that opened up large parts of the land to settlement, transformed Melbourne and Sydney from colonial outposts into two of the world's most vibrant cities, and triggered the push for a more democratic form of government. Today, Australia continues to be one of the premier gold-producing countries in the world. Gold reveals in fascinating detail how this precious metal has helped to shape Australia.

The lustre which drew mankind to gold in ancient times has made it the most prized commodity throughout time. Wars have been fought over it, and civilisations have been subjugated and enslaved in the rush to control its sources. In places like Australia, though, the mere possibility of its existence was feared while the country remained a penal colony. Once found though the rush could not be contained.

Gold financed great building, paved roads and made Melbourne the most exciting and expensive city in the world for a time. It was stockpiled in banks, and the currencies of nations were valued against it until the twentieth century wars and the Great Depression brought an end to its use as a standard. Its importance as a measure of individual prestige has continues unabated driving prospectors and miners to search for new deposits and to find better means of extracting it from old mines.

This book is part of Exisle Publishing's Little Red Books series.

Every title in the Little Red Books series provides an overview of key events, people or places in Australian history. They cover the essentials, bringing the reader up to speed on the most important, fascinating or intriguing facts. Appealing to everyone from students to pensioners who've always wanted to "know a bit about that", they're an essential part of every Australian bookshelf.