The town was founded in 1855 during the Victorian gold rush and at one stage had a population of around 13,000 prospectors.

Wealth created by the Victorian gold rush translated into increasingly sophisticated development of the town.

With the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s the population of the area grew rapidly.

Development occurred as a result of a boom following the Victorian gold rush.

The opening of the university was made possible by the wealth coming from the Victorian gold rush.

It grew during the 1850s as a service town for people going to and from the Victorian gold rush.

The area came into prominence during the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s.

Large, expensive houses were built throughout the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s.

Population growth was slow until the Victorian gold rush of the 1860s brought an increase in north-south trade.

Begun in 1851, the work ground to a halt with the beginning of the Victorian gold rush.