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discovery of gold in Australia
The new south wales government announced that gold had been discovered near Bathurst by Edward Hargreaves, John lister and William , James and Henry Tom. In June 1851 the victorian government also reported the discoveries of gold. -
introduction of the gold licence
To raise funds, but also to discourage the flood of people moving to the diggings, New South Wales Governor Charles Fitzroy and Lieutenant-Governor Charles La Trobe of Victoria, imposed a 30-shilling a month licence fee on miners. -
Conflict on the goldfields.
Miners began to gather at 'monster meeting to voice their concerns about the licensing system.They alleged the police were extorting money, accepting bribes and imprisoning people with out trial. They presented their concerns to governor la Trobe but where ignored. -
Eureka leader Peter Lalor,
Peter Lalor convinced the miners to swear an oath to the southern cross. -
Murder at the Eureka hotel
Scottish miner James scobie was killed in an altercation at the Eureka hotel in Ballarat. The own of the hotel James Bentley was accused of killing Scobie. A court of inquiry was held but Bentley was let go. The miners sensed a miscarriage of justice, in part because on of the court members was a police magistrate known for taking bribes from Bentley. -
People gather to discuss the case.
About 5,00 people gathered to discuss the case. tHey decided to appeal against the decision. After the dispersal of the crowd, a small group decided to set fire to the Eureka Hotel. They where arrested by police and situation became more tense. -
The soldiers attack the Eureka Stockades.
Early on in the morning on Sunday the soldiers attacked the stockades, when the stockades where only lightly guarded.
At least 22 miners and five soldiers where killed. -
Conflict at the Eureka
Over the next two days, men and women remained in and around the stockade, many performing military drills in preparation for possible conflict. This was too much for the Commissioner of the Ballarat goldfields, Robert Rede. He called for the police and army to destroy the stockade at first light. The assault was over in 15 minutes, with at least 22 miners – including one woman – and five soldiers losing their lives. -
Eureka arrest and trials
Police arrested and detained 113 of the miners involved in the Eureka Stockade. Eventually 13 were taken to Melbourne to stand trial. The citizens of Victoria were opposed to the government’s actions at Ballarat and one by one the 13 leaders of the rebellion were tried by jury and released. -
Eureka and the southern cross flag
Over the next weeks the miners met and elected delegates.
The delegates approached the new victorian governor, Charles Hotham. The delegation demanded the release of the men burned down Bentely's Eureka hotel. The governer took offense at the demands being made at him and dismissed the requests. -
The Introduction of the Eureka flag
Sensing a change in the the governments approach, the miners held another meeting at bakery hill. Their the newly created Eureka flag was unfurled. -
Miners at ballarat
Miners in Ballarat swore allegiances to the southern cross flag at bakery hill and built a stockade at the nearby Eureka diggings. -
Eureka Stockade
The miners gathered and marched to Bakery Hill. There, Irish miner Peter Lalor became the leader of the protest. Lalor led the miners to the Eureka diggings, where the men and women joined him in an oath: ‘We swear by the Southern Cross, to stand truly by each other, and fight to defend our rights and liberties’. They gathered timber and built a stockade. -
1851 to 1860 huge population increase.
Victorians population increased from 76,000 to 540000.
This massive influx of people was a serious challenge for the government. There were limited finances to provide services to citizens and the colonial budget was in deficit. -
Goldfields Commission of Enquiry
The licence fee was removed, replaced by an export duty and a nominal £1 per year miner’s right. Half the police on the goldfields were fired and one warden replaced.
Twelve new members were added to the Victorian Legislative Council, four appointed by the Queen and eight elected by people who held a miner’s right. One of these elected members was Peter Lalor. -
Legacy of the Eureka Stockade
The Eureka Stockade was a short-lived rebellion that continues to influence Australian politics to this day. In the words of Doc Evatt, former Leader of the Australian Labor Party and High Court judge, ‘Australian democracy was born at Eureka.’