- Alternative Names
- Mt William Goldfield
Joseph Pollard discovered gold at Pinky Point, about three miles west of where Ararat lies today, in May or June 1854. The area became known as the Mt William Goldfield. Miners did not flock to the region until a series of discoveries between 1856 and 1858 precipitated the Ararat Rush, which led to the establishment of one of Victoria’s largest mining populations. The peak of the rush was in April 1857 when Chinese gold seekers discovered the Canton Lead.
