Letters from Australia during the goldrush period in the 1850s described life on the diggings to readers of The Illustrated London News back in England.

The following is an extract from a letter written in 1852, after the writer had spent 72 days working on the diggings at Eureka in Ballarat.

“Though I am one of those who think favourably of gold digging, I would, nevertheless, advise none to emigrate who have not given the matter the fullest and most mature consideration.

“Can I stand hard labour?

“Can I live contentedly amidst the discomforts of the goldfields, and bear the many disappointments I shall be liable to there, without losing heart?

“These are questions the intending emigrant should be able to answer before he finally decides on a change.

“Persons who have never left home are apt to think too lightly on the subject of emigration, and picture to themselves nothing but scenes of prosperity and happiness in the prospect before them, which they often learn, too late, were fallacious.

“If however, the golden continent of the Pacific be your destination, it is as well to inform intending diggers how to reach them (after landing in either Melbourne or Geelong) with the least difficulty, and what will be their probable wants in Victoria.

“The emigrant will discover that to reach the goldfields is not so easy a matter as he may have anticipated; he will learn that the roads are villainous and there is great difficulty in getting a conveyance for his baggage up.