1851: Edward Hargraves claims to have found gold in Australia.
1851: The Reuters news service is founded.
6 Feb 1851: Bush Fires in Australia.
"Black Thursday" as bushfires rage from Mount Gambier to Melbourne. Fires covered a quarter of what is now the state of Victoria, approximately 50,000 km². Areas affected include Portland, the Plenty Ranges to the north of Melbourne, Westernport, the Wimmera and Dandenong districts. Approximately 12 people died, one million sheep and thousands of cattle were lost.
2 Aug 1851: Gold is first discovered in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, leading to the Victorian gold rush.
1806 - 1875 (69 years)
