Synopsis
The Australian government has nominated the southeast goldfields for World Heritage status, marking a step towards UNESCO recognition. These goldfields tell the stories of Indigenous communities and migration, significantly impacting Victoria's economy and population growth during the 1850s and 1860s.Key Takeaways
- Goldfields nominated for World Heritage status.
- Located in Victoria, Australia.
- Linked to the gold rush of the 1850s and 1860s.
- Significant Chinese migration during this period.
- Tourism contributes 1.8 billion AUD annually.
Canberra, Jan 31 (NationPress) The government of Australia has officially put forward the goldfields located in the southeastern part of the nation for consideration as a World Heritage site.
Tanya Plibersek, the Minister for the Environment and Water, declared on Friday that the goldfields in Victoria have been included in Australia's World Heritage Tentative List.
This marks the initial formal step toward gaining recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the area.
Plibersek stated in a joint announcement with the Victorian government that the goldfields, situated in a significant central region of the state, known as the Golden Triangle, narrate the history of Indigenous communities and early immigrants to Australia.
The goldfields are closely linked to the gold rush that occurred during the 1850s and 1860s, which spurred a significant migration wave.
According to the National Museum of Australia, over 30,000 Chinese migrants arrived in Australia amid the gold rush. By the year 1861, 3.3 percent of the Australian populace had been born in China—a percentage not matched until the 1980s.
Plibersek expressed that international acknowledgment of the region would enhance the preservation of its heritage and draw visitors globally, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
"It is the most extensive, coherent, and best-preserved gold rush landscape in the world. It deserves to be celebrated and protected," she explained.
Jacinta Allan, the Premier of Victoria, mentioned that the goldfields stand as a "living testament to those who came to Victoria, in search of a better life and how they transformed the state."
The population of Victoria surged from about 77,000 in 1851, when gold was discovered in the town of Clunes, located approximately 120 km northwest of Melbourne, to over 530,000 by 1861.
Tourism in the goldfields generates an annual contribution of 1.8 billion Australian dollars (around $1.1 billion) to the Victorian economy.
