What was one major effect of the gold rush in Australia?

The gold rush in Australia had a significant impact on the country's demographic and social landscape, primarily due to the dramatic population influx and associated conflicts. As gold was discovered in various regions, particularly in places like Victoria and New South Wales during the 1850s, it attracted a massive wave of immigrants from both within Australia and abroad. People flocked to these areas in hopes of striking it rich, leading to a rapid increase in population.

The sheer number of newcomers often led to tensions and conflicts, both among different groups of miners and between settlers and indigenous populations. This heightened competition for resources, land, and mining rights fostered disputes and sometimes violent confrontations. Therefore, the gold rush not only drastically changed the demographic composition of Australia but also instigated challenges that emerged from the clash of diverse cultures and interests in newly developed mining towns.

The other choices, while related to Australian history, do not encapsulate the primary effect seen during the gold rush period as effectively as the population influx and conflict did. Agricultural production may have seen increases in some regions but was not a direct result of the gold rush itself. The spread of indigenous languages was unlikely to have a major boost, given the disruptions caused by colonization and the influx of non-indigenous settlers