Gold - Greed, Innovations, Daring and Wealth (Electronic book text)

Since ancient times gold has exerted a powerful fascination for humankind. In Australia, its discovery sparked frenzied gold rushes that opened up large parts of the land to settlement, transformed Melbourne and Sydney from colonial outposts into two of the world's most vibrant cities, and triggered the push for a more democratic form of government. Today, Australia continues to be one of the premier gold-producing countries in the world.