With George Philip's important early map of the Gold Fields of southeastern Australia: 'Philip's new map of the gold fields of Australia comprising all the recent discoveries of Mr. Hargraves, Mr. Hunter, Revd. W. Clark & others in the auriferous districts 1852' (Liverpool, George Philip & Son, 1852).

The first Australian Gold Rush began in May of 1851 when seasoned prospector, in both Australia and California, Edward Hammond Hargraves (1816-1891) found substantial deposits in Bathurst in New South Wales, and claimed a reward from both the Colonies of New South Wales and Victoria. He then ignored pleas for secrecy, and announced his discovery in the 'Sydney Morning Herald', named the area as Ophir, and whipped up enthusiasm in the Bathurst district. "By 15 May over 300 diggers were at Ophir and the first Australian gold rush had begun. It would continue on and off for the rest of the nineteenth century, and have a great effect on the population, which increased from 430,000 in 1851 to 1.7 million in 1871.

The southeastern portion of Australia had been named New South Wales by Captain James Cook, after its resemblance to South Wales, and Welsh people were numbered amongst the first settlers there. Wales has a long history of gold panning and mining, stretching back to ancient times.