What If What Happened To Hill End Happened In Your Town?
What Exactly Happened To Hill End?
Hill End is a mining town just north of the city of Bathurst in NSW, Australia.
Founded during the 1850s’ gold rush, it reached it’s peak in the 1870s, with about 8,000 residents.
At its peak, it boasted newspapers, five banks, eight churches, and twenty-eight pubs, and a host of shops.
By 1945 the population had dropped to 700 people, and in 2006 had dwindled to just 166 permanent residents.
It fared better than the nearby town of Tambaroora though, there’s no one there apart from kangaroos and other wildlife.
(There are lots of kangaroos in Hill End too. I went for a walk through there yesterday, and it wasn’t tulips that I was tip toeing through).
Below: The Royal Hotel, Hill End. Hanging in there since 1872. Bed and breakfast from $50.00/night!
As the gold ran out, the town shrunk, and kept shrinking.
There is still gold there, it’s just very hard to mine in commercial quantities.
I remember fossicking for gold there when I was at school back when Moses was a lad.
Anyway, my point is that what Hill End lacked was economic diversity.
As it became easier to get large amounts of gold at other places, people moved away.
And the same thing could happen anywhere in Australia, or around the world for that matter.
As more and more industrial production moves off shore to places like India and China in search of cheaper labor, more towns and cities will face decline.
With commodity prices continuing to fluctuate, other mining towns face the same prospect.
So What IS The Answer?
Is it up to government to meet the shortfall?
No, but finding ways to create an educated and creative work force would be a start.
I don’t believe that it is up to Government any where to nurse their citizens, but they can do a lot to encourage new business.
Otherwise, we are looking at becoming a nation of super consumers, working as shopkeepers and pizza deliverers!
I was here inspecting the wares yesterday in Hill End! Super nice coffee I must say…
The population of Western nations is partly responsible for economic decline as well.
The constant search for goods at cheaper prices does have an effect on existing businesses.
And those businesses employ other people, people who get hurt when their employer fails.
What are your thoughts?
I do believe that it is time for rational debate rather than finger pointing and side taking.
As far as debate is concerned though I am a bit pessimistic given the current state of affairs in the corridor of power.
Does anyone even know how to think, and debate anymore, without resorting to the hate card?
It’s Anzac weekend here in Australia, and in New Zealand.
Lest We Forget!