Alert

A site-wide children's event is being held at the Library on Thursday 16 January. Find out more.
The Pauline Gandel Children's Quarter has altered opening hours in January. Find out more.

Home > Get involved > Ballarat goldfields diary

Ballarat goldfields diary

The extraordinary Ballarat goldfields diary was written in 1855 by a Scottish gold-digger, charting six eventful months in the miner's life.

Fascinating in its detail, the diary brings Victoria's historic gold-rush period to life, including descriptions of a fire that killed 11 people, the arrival of new prostitutes in town and the escape of a Bengal tiger in Ballarat's Main Street.

'the diary brings Victoria's historic gold-rush period to life'