gold was discovered in 1852, with another gold rush from 1854 at nearby fiery creek. the fiery creek diggings supported four townships, beaufort, yam holes creek, view point and southern cross, during the 1850s. the population on the fields reportedly reached approximately 100,000 people at its height in the late 1850s and produced 450,000 ounces of gold over a two-year period, 1855–1856.