Darwin: Origin of a CityDARWIN: Origin of a City In January 1870, the first Top End settlers arrived to find very little 'settlement' ready for them, other than surveyed blocks of land sold to distant investors. They built their colony from scratch, with little tangible reason for its existence until the overland telegraph line came through from London to join Australia to the rest of the world. Then gold was discovered, and hopeful miners rushed to Darwin from all over the country. Most went home disappointed; if they survived the privations of the bush. Then the government imported Chinese workers – and they kept coming; gold dust shining in their eyes. By the end of the decade there were ten times as many Chinese as European settlers, and Chinatown was the most vibrant part of the settlement. Out NOW in shops or click to purchase on line or phone The Bookshop Darwin on 08 8941 3489. Contact https://www.woodslane.com.au/Book/9780648142140/Darwin-Origin-of-a-City |
Stories from Darwin's first ten years. |