Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1923, Netta Sterne of Vancouver wrote Fraser Gold 1858! - The Founding of British Columbia (University of Washington Press 1998). It reflects the tumultuous year of 1858 when an estimated 25,000 to 40,000 gold seekers swarmed up the Fraser River to the New Caledonia wilderness. Another 8,000 went north via mid-Columbia and Okanagan trails. Most of these newcomers were from the United States. Sterne tries to incorporate many first-hand accounts to tell the story, having found such accounts in the New York Times, San Francisco Bulletin and The Times of London, etc.

Netta Stern immigrated to Ottawa in 1950 and arrived in Vancouver in 1960. In 1980 she became an editor and writer for Heritage West magazine. She is married to Ron Sterne, a professional engineer.

[BCBW 2003] "Early B.C." "Gold" "1850-1900"

Review of the author's work by BC Studies:
'Fraser Gold 1858! The Founding of British Columbia