Since ancient times gold has exerted a powerful fascination for humankind. Symbol of wealth and riches, it has influenced the rise and fall of empires and changed the course of history. In Australia, its discovery sparked frenzied gold rushes that opened up large parts of the land to settlement, transformed Melbourne and Sydney from colonial outposts into two of the worlds most vibrant cities, and triggered the push for a more democratic form of government. Today, Australia continues to be one of the premier gold-producing countries in the world. GOLD reveals in fascinating detail how this precious metal has helped to shape Australia.