The Powerhouse acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the ancestral homelands upon which our museums are situated. We respect their Elders, past, present and future and recognise their continuous connection to Country.
A11050 Board game, 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia', linen / wood / paper, maker unknown, England, 1850-1869. Click to enlarge.
  • Image 1 of 3, A11050 Board game, 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia', linen / wood / paper, maker unknown, England, 1850-1869. Click to enlarge
  • Image 2 of 3, A11050 Board game, 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia', linen / wood / paper, maker unknown, England, 1850-1869. Click to enlarge
  • Image 3 of 3, A11050 Board game, 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia', linen / wood / paper, maker unknown, England, 1850-1869. Click to enlarge

'Race to the gold diggings of Australia' board game

Made
In the 1850s thousands of immigrants arrived to seek their fortunes on the Australian goldfields. Hoping to find wealth, most unearthed only hardship and disappointment. Nevertheless the discovery of gold inspired tales of adventure in children's fiction and non-fiction. It also inspired board games illustrating life on the gold fields. Around this time the game called 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia' was produced in England.

It is the detailed colour illustrations which make this …

Parts of this object

Image unavailable
'Race to the gold diggings of Australia' game board
1850-1869
Image unavailable
Game piece shaped like a ship for 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia' board game
1850-1869
Image unavailable
Game piece shaped like a ship for 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia' board game
1850-1869
A11050-8 Die, part of board game, spinning, cardboard / wood, maker unknown, England, 1850-1869
Spinning die for 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia' board game
1850-1869
Image unavailable
Game piece shaped like a ship for 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia' board game
1850-1869
A11050-9 Instruction sheet, part of board game, 'Voyage to the Gold Diggings', paper, maker unknown, England, 1850-1869
Instruction sheet for 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia' board game
1850-1869
Image unavailable
Game piece shaped like a ship for 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia' board game
1850-1869
A11050-10 Box, part of board game, 'Voyage to the Gold Diggings', paper / wood, maker unknown, England, 1850-1869
Box for 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia' board game
1850-1869
Image unavailable
Game piece shaped like a ship for 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia' board game
1850-1869
Image unavailable
Game piece shaped like a ship for 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia' board game
1850-1869

Summary

Object No.

A11050

Object Statement

Board game, 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia', linen / wood / paper, maker unknown, England, 1850-1869

Physical Description

Board game, 'Race to the gold diggings of Australia', linen / wood / paper, maker unknown, England, 1850-1869.

A boxed children's board game. The game board consists of a hand-coloured lithograph mounted on linen, accompanied with a printed rule card, 6 painted ship pieces with stands, and a cardboard teetotum, all contained in its original wooden case with illustrated lid. The illustration on the game board is a oval track divided into 80 sections, simulating the journey by sea from England to Australia; the central illustration depicts miners at the gold fields, while in each corner of the game are vignette illustrations showing travels, success on the diggings and bags of gold. The illustration on the box lid shows ships "Passing the Cape of Good Hope".

Short URL

https://ma.as/172622

Dimensions

Width

495 mm

Production

Made

Notes

The maker of the board game is unknown.

Source

Credit Line

Purchased 1984

Acquisition Date

9 December 1984

Cite this Object

Harvard

'Race to the gold diggings of Australia' board game 2023, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 8 June 2023, <https://ma.as/172622>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/172622 |title='Race to the gold diggings of Australia' board game |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=8 June 2023 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}

We want to hear from you

I know more about this object   I have a question about this object   
Creative Commons Licence

Copyright for the above image is held by MAAS and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please contact MAAS Rights and Permissions for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives licence

  Submit an image license enquiry.