Eureka Stockade

  • Lt Governor Charles Hotham arrives in Victoria

    Lt Governor Charles Hotham arrives in Victoria. He realises the colony is in mounting financial debt so he orders weekly licensing hunts in the attempt to increase the colonies’ income.
  • his wifes tours the mines

    Governor Hotham and his wife tour the gold fields. They receive warm welcomes from the miners.
  • licence check

    Twice-weekly licence checks were introduced on the Ballarat diggings.
  • soldiers are sent

    The Government sends soldiers to Ballarat. The miners attack the soldiers
  • scobies murder

    James Scobie, a miner, is murdered outside the Eureka Hotel.
    James Bentley, the owner of the Eureka Hotel, was charged with Scobie's murder.
  • bentley acquitted

    Bentley is acquitted of Scobie's murder.
  • robbery

    Four men robbed the Bank of Victoria on Baker Hill; john Bolton, Henry Garrett, Henry Marriott and Thomas Quinn. They made away with £15,000.
    Miners met to speak about resolutions to press the Government to reform.
    "The Goldfields Reform League" was formed.
  • miners fight for scobies death

    Angry miners meet on the site of Scobies death to discuss the next course of action on Bentley's acquittal. Some members of the meeting get carried away and end up starting a riot. As a result the Eureka hotel was burnt down.
  • The Police reinforcements arrive.

  • Several people were taken into custody for the burning of the Eureka hotel.

  • Governor Hotham sends a commission to report on the conditions on the gold field.

  • james bentley

    James Bentley was re-arrested and trialled over Scobie's murder and was convicted of manslaughter along with Thomas Farrell and William Hence.
    The miners are convicted and sentenced to jail for burning down the Eureka Hotel
  • licence hunt starts fight

    The miners refuse to show their license and throw rocks at the troopers. The troops fire shots from their guns over the heads of the miners and Commissioner Rede tells the miner off for their behaviour. Work is suspended on the gold field.
    Another meeting is held on Bakery Hill, Peter Lalor becomes the leader and calls for volunteers. Hundreds of people swear their oath to defend their rights and liberties under the Eureka flag.
    The Eureka stockade (barricade) is erected.
  • the flag is flown

    The miners meet on Bakery Hill again, more than 10,000 miners attend. The group of representatives report of their meeting with the Governor. The Eureka flag is flown for the first time and some miners burnt their licences.
  • eureka stockade fight begins

    In the early morning, when there were only approximately 200 miners in the stockade, the soldiers attacked. After ... minutes the battle ended. 22 miners were killed as well as five soldiers.
  • miners trial

    The miner’s trial takes place in Melbourne and all the miners were acquitted.
  • investigation in miners grievances

    A royal Commission is established to investigate the miner's grievances. It leads to improvements in conditions on the Goldfields. The cost of the Licence is reduced and the miners are given rights to vote.