In the latter half of the 19th century it seemed the whole world was gripped by gold fever. Telegraph wires hummed with tales of easy fortunes to be made in far-flung corners of the world – America, Australia, South Africa and more – and thousands of men and women flocked to newfound goldfields in the hope of striking it rich.

Click through this gallery to see evocative images of gold rushes around the world – and the transformations they brought…