Chapter 105: Eastern Section of the Railway Opens to Traffic
The exploration of the gold mine continued for more than half a month, even drawing the attention of German experts.
Finally, after this lengthy survey, the approximate reserves and boundaries of the gold mine were confirmed, and the area was designated as the newest official mining zone, strictly prohibiting access by unauthorized personnel.
According to the latest report from Minister of Industry Pierre, the massive gold deposit fully covered the canyon and even extended beyond in some areas.
This meant the mine was extremely vast, and with evidence of gold found deep underground, it was clear that the reserves were enormous.
Although only rough estimates could be made for now, the gold mine's reserves were said to rival those of Australia's largest previously discovered gold mines, with at least tens of millions of tons.
The gold content also surpassed the acceptable threshold, reaching about 4.5 grams per ton of ore.
This meant that once fully mined, the deposit could yield at least several dozen tons of gold—possibly even more.
For Arthur, who aimed to issue a new currency, this amount of gold would be sufficient.
After all, even if a new currency were issued, it would initially only circulate within Australia, and the printing volume would be small.
News of the discovery of this new large-scale gold mine in New South Wales quickly drew the attention of prospectors.
Even though the Ministry of Industry determined the size and boundaries of the mine in just over two weeks, hundreds of gold seekers had already arrived in the surrounding area.
Although they didn't dare approach the mine too closely due to the police and military presence, a large number of prospectors had gathered just outside the officially designated zone. Many brought their belongings and tents, launching their frenzied search for gold.
Before news of the gold mine spread more widely, this was the best opportunity for these Australian prospectors to strike it rich.
But as the news spread and more prospectors poured into the region, even a large quantity of placer gold wouldn't be enough to satisfy them all.
The good news was that many people had received aid from the Relief Committee or had found high-paying jobs in industrial areas and other sectors, so relatively few chose to pursue gold prospecting.
Even fewer were willing to give up their hard-earned, well-paying jobs to chase the risky dream of overnight wealth.
Had Arthur not specifically instructed that wages in the new industrial jobs must remain above the national average income level, the news of the gold discovery might have drawn far more people to the mines.
That would not have been good news for Australia's nascent industrial sector and its ongoing construction efforts.
A mass exodus of labor could collapse the fragile but growing industrial system.
February 17, 1902 – Sydney.
Today, Australia welcomed a piece of exciting news: the eastern section of the industrial railway, connecting Sydney and Melbourne, officially opened to traffic.
The total length of the railway was nearly 900 kilometers, linking the two most developed states in Australia—New South Wales and Victoria—as well as serving as a bridge between the capitals, Sydney and Melbourne.
In fact, railway construction hadn't progressed this quickly. Construction had only started on September 1 of the previous year, and it had been just under six months since then.
Although the Australian government had deployed tens of thousands of native workers—suffering over a thousand casualties in the process—they had only managed to build about 300 kilometers of new railway between Sydney and Melbourne.
A large portion of the over 900-kilometer railway consisted of pre-existing lines originally developed by New South Wales and Victoria.
Being the most developed regions in Australia, these two states had been the first to begin railway construction.
They were also rich in mineral resources—mainly gold and other metals, though not the more industrially critical coal and iron. Nevertheless, their value couldn't be denied.
To facilitate mining operations, railway development in New South Wales and Victoria had started early and had been well planned.
If not for the previous isolation policies between colonies, the railway between Sydney and Melbourne could have been completed much earlier.
Still, it was not too late. This railway played a critical role in promoting cultural and economic exchange between Australian cities.
Although much of the railway consisted of older lines, after being repaired and upgraded, they were fully usable again.
To celebrate the opening of Australia's first major railway line, Arthur and Prime Minister Evan personally arrived at the train station. After delivering an inspiring speech, they boarded Australia's first civilian train and departed for Sydney.
In truth, to ensure Arthur's safety, the railway had already been tested many times. This journey was purely ceremonial.
But that didn't dampen the public's excitement. For the people of New South Wales and Victoria, the railway meant far easier communication and transportation.
Although residents of other states couldn't enjoy this benefit just yet, they weren't in a rush. After all, the industrial railway was a national plan covering all five mainland states. Eventually, most Australians would enjoy the benefits of this initiative—wouldn't they?
As for the people of Tasmania, due to geographic limitations, they would have to wait a bit longer.
Train speeds were still relatively slow at this time. Even though the line was only slightly over 900 kilometers long, the journey still took nearly 15 hours.
Still, many Australian officials had never experienced such speed before. Sitting beside the train windows, they excitedly pointed at the passing scenery, filled with emotion.
Arthur, however, wasn't particularly moved. After being accustomed to the high-speed trains and subways of the modern world, it was hard to be impressed by a train running at around 60 kilometers per hour.
In fact, the impact of the railway's opening extended far beyond this moment. Economically, it significantly lowered the cost of transporting goods, facilitated interpersonal communication, and promoted overall economic development.
Militarily, once the entire industrial railway system was operational, it would drastically reduce the pressure on national defense.
Although Australia was an island nation, it was also a vast continent. Its total area rivaled that of Western Europe, yet its army numbered only ten thousand. The pressure on national defense was immense.
With the industrial railway fully operational, the military could reach any state within just a few days.
This was critical to maintaining national stability and reducing defense burdens.
In truth, neither Arthur nor the Australian government had anticipated the massive impact that even this small stretch of railway would have.
On the day it opened, people in both Sydney and Melbourne spontaneously organized celebrations. If the police hadn't warned them that unregulated parades could disrupt public order, they likely would have held large-scale marches.
Still, this showed how law-abiding Australians generally were.
The impact of the railway's opening continued to grow. As both the Victoria Times and the Australia Daily reported on the event, more Australians learned about the good news and joined in the celebrations.
Because both newspapers reminded readers to celebrate responsibly and avoid disrupting public order, there were no unusual or extreme festivities.
Most people simply gathered with a few friends, dreaming about the future, discussing the present, and sharing drinks in quiet celebration.
A few merchants and small business owners even used the occasion to launch promotional events, bringing in some extra customers and profit.
(End of Chapter)
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