What were the amenities like for a digger in the Australian goldfields?

Answer 1

Amenities on the Australian goldfields were minimal and very basic.

The fields were crowded: miners had between 1 and 3 square metres of 'claim' to live and work. Many diggers lived in tents, or even rough, open bark shelters. Those who stayed longer sometimes built larger slab hut dwellings, but these were still very basic. People would live in small humpies made out of wood, scraps and things found around the area. Also many people would live in a canvas tent because they were cheap and portable. Later in the gold rush, when people were more certain about whether they were staying or not, people might decide to live in small cottages. These cottages often incorporated solid brick and stone fireplaces, instead of the diggers having to do all their cooking outside.

The more popular goldfields were crowded and unsanitary, with open latrines running nearby. Scavenging dogs could be seen roaming around, and children wandered unsupervised through the diggings. As a result, disease was rife. These diseases included whooping cough, scarlet fever, measles, cholera, dysentery and typhoid.