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The Eureka Stockade

By Tom8o

  • Licensing system introduced by Lieutenant-Governor La Trobe.

    Miners had to pay for a licence to be able to mine for gold.

  • Sir Charles Hotham appointed Lieutenant-Governor.

    Orders twice-weekly checks of licences.

  • James Scobie, a miner, kicked to death.

    Four men, including James Bentley, owner of the Eureka Hotel, acquitted.

  • Meeting of miners angry with decision

    Bentley's hotel burned down.

  • Meeting of miners on Bakery Hill.

  • Hotham refused request to release those arrested after attack on Eureka Hotel.

  • Confrontation between miners and military.

  • Mass meeting of miners at Bakery Hill.

    Licences burnt, Eureka Flag first raised.

  • Several miners arrested after confrontations with police. Meeting of miners. Peter Lalor elected leader. Licence check ordered. Police stoned. About 500 miners swear to uphold their rights. Stockade built.

    Several miners arrested after confrontations with police. Meeting of miners. Peter Lalor elected leader. Licence check ordered. Police stoned. About 500 miners swear to uphold their rights. Stockade built.

  • Some miners leave to collect food and ammunition. About 200 remain.

    Some miners leave to collect food and ammunition. About 200 remain.

  • Clash between miners and military and police forces in the early morning.

    Clash between miners and military and police forces in the early morning — 152 infantry, 30 cavalrymen and 100 mounted and foot police.

  • The rebellion was crushed within about 15 minutes.

    The soldiers and police then went wild, destroying tents and property without reason, bayoneting the wounded, and shooting innocent bystanders. The aftermath of the battle led many to describe Eureka as a massacre

  • Martial Law proclaimed.

  • Gold Fields' Commissioned appointed

  • Martial Lay lifted

  • Trials of 13 miners

    All except one acquitted. Henry Seekamp, the editor of the Ballarat Times sentenced to six months for seditious libel.

  • Gold Fields' Commission recommends: the abolition of licences, establishment of an export duty on gold, the miner's right to a title deed to his claim, and the opening of Crown land to small land holders.