9 Aug 2013 – Talk – Between Mitchell and the Gold

Posted on 2 August, 2013 by Connecting Country

On Friday 9 August, the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club will be local artist, ‘expeditioner’ and historian Eliza Tree.

Eliza’s recent research ‘challenges the misconception that Victoria and Castlemaine began with gold’. Following the journey of Major Mitchell through Victoria in 1836, there was a rapid expansion of pastoralism and colonization into the local area and across Victoria, all prior to the Gold Rush of the 1850’s. Eliza will describe many of the effects that this expansion had upon the local environment and indigenous cultural landscape in those few years between Mitchell and the Gold Rush.

Her talk is titled “Land Rush to Gold Rush, Jaara Country 1836 – 51”.

As per usual, the evening will commence at 7.30pm in the Fellowship Room hall behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St in Castlemaine (midway between Kennedy St and Barker St). Both members of the CFNC and visitors are welcome and encouraged to attend this free event. Stay for a chat over a hot drink and biscuits afterwards!