The Gold Crusades: A Social History of Gold Rushes, 1849-1929 (Revised)Among the hordes of starry eyed 'argonauts' who flocked to the California gold rush of 1849 was an Australian named Edward Hargraves. He left America empty handed, only to find gold in his own backyard. The result was the great Australian rush of the 1850s, which also attracted participants from around the world. A South African named P. J. Marais was one of them. Marais too returned home in defeat only to set in motion the diamond and gold rushes