Hi, this is one of my rants - so stop reading now - if California Gully in 1857 was anything like Ballarat - then the conditions for those with money were pretty good - come to think of it - anywhere and anytime - those with money generally found living conditions pretty good - whether they were aware or even cared about the living conditions of those with less money is debateable - did those with high incomes or large resources exploit the aspirations of those without? Doesn't matter really - what does matter - Charles LYALL did a a sketch of California Gully possibly just a little before the time in question - visit this address http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/b/2/7/doc/b27414.shtml or if you want full colour try this: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/b/2/7/doc/b27406.shtml Both of these pics obtained by visiting the ever so useful National Library site at www.nla.gov.au - and selecting the picture search option - wonderful.. Some of my ancestors were on the Maryborough goldfields at the height of the rushes and there is quite a good history published of the time - my recollection of the reading of the the book tells me - the gold fields in the early days were a little akin to hell for many of the people dragged there by poverty and the dream of opportunity. Imagine, dear readers, if you're able or willing, leaving the rich green fields of Europe - where you were perhaps a young adult - but still a peasant and knew you would die almost penniless with 10 children by the age of 55 - and somehow - you and a couple of friends had the money to escape to Australia and the goldfields - where the dust in the streets was only there to hide the golden fortunes beneath .. dreams - they are what got us here and they'll take us there too .. I feel that for many people who put up with the miserable days on the goldfields - that they had escaped untold horrors and miseries back in Europe - and though the conditions in Australia may have been terrible - in many places they were the best conditions the people on the fields had ever experienced - relative freedom for a start ... beautiful skies and great company ,. pretty well the same as it is now ... :) cheers robert Jenny De Angelis wrote: > Where can I find out what the living conditions would have been like on the > goldfields at California Gully around the time the DeAngelis family arrived > between 1856-1858? I imagine it would have been pretty rough and ready but > just how rough and ready would that have been? > > Any information on how I can find out more on this aspect of the people and > how they lived at that time would be welcome. > > Another question I have is about how long would the journey from London have > taken? > > Regards > Jenny DeAngelis > Spain. > > > > >