The large-scale changes in the Melbourne population began with the gold rush

In 1851, a large amount of gold was discovered in Sovereign Hill on the north side of Melbourne. Gold miners from Europe, America, and Asia rushed frantically towards Melbourne, triggering a gold rush that lasted for 50 years. From 1836 to 1854, the population of Melbourne increased from 177 to 120000. The rapidly expanding population and wealth have transformed Melbourne from a remote small town into an important city, known as the "New Golden Mountain" by the Chinese, and even San Francisco has been overshadowed. Thus, the urban construction of Melbourne officially began.