While studying in Nova Scotia more than 30 years ago, Modern History Associate Professor Frank Clarke wondered about the origins of a local river's name. Little did he know the answer would one day lead to an academic research project.

“I lived about half a mile from this river called Gold River. It always fascinated me why this river was called Gold River and I found there had been gold rushes there (in Nova Scotia),” Clarke says. “It's been ticking over in my mind ever since to find out more about it.”

Clarke will study the extent of the Nova Scotian gold rushes - where they took place and to what extent they were drummed up by the local authorities - thanks to a Canadian Government funded Faculty Research Award, which encourages research of joint Australian/Canadian interest.

The grant, awarded in April, will allow Clarke to spend between four to six weeks in Nova Scotia in the first half of next year. He will study archival and museum sources, including newspapers and records of parliamentary sittings, as part of his research.

Gold was discovered in Australia in 1851, leading to a mass immigration of gold hunters from across the world, including Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotian gold rushes were in the 1860s. Clarke suspects the Nova Scotian gold rushes were, to some extent, contrived by the local authorities to stop the mass exodus of local residents to California and Australia.

“I'm interested in parts of the narrative of Australian history that are less well known. The relationship between Canada and Australia is more significant than historians have allowed for up to this point,” Clarke says.

He believes his research will give a greater insight into the relationship between Canada and Australia in the late 19th century.

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