Work began at the Geelong end in 1854 .
Progress was slow due to a labour shortage caused by the Victorian gold rush , so the Victorian government hired out 100 prisoners to the company at a daily rate of five shillings each .
Work began at the Geelong end in 1854 but progress was slow due to a labour shortage caused by the Victorian gold rush , so the Victorian government hired out 100 prisoners to the company at a daily rate of five shillings each .