Most gold seekers and their families hoped to attain great advantage by migrating to Bendigo's goldrush in the mid-19th century, but many encountered significant misery instead. Environmental catastrophe, rough living conditions, poverty, illness and early death tested the fortitude of many individuals and families. Dr Jones tells how one Scottish family, the Browns, made sense of their misfortune through examination of family letters held by the National Library of Scotland and material artefacts in the La Trobe University Sandhurst Collection. Researched by Associate Professor Jennifer Jones, with assistance from Dr Rachel Goldust, supported by the Sandhurst Research grant fund.
The La Trobe University Sandhurst Collection Research Grant Fund was offered through the Bendigo Tertiary Education Anniversary Foundation for research focussed around historic collections housed in the Heyward Library of La Trobe University Bendigo.