Striking It RichStriking It Rich

Activity 5, 6, & 7 By Halina Przastek

Gold Gold Licences! Licences!

Activity 5

A gold licence is what the diggers used on the goldfields. They had to have a gold licence to be able to mine for gold. If they did not have gold licence and they were digging for gold they would have been hung or shot dead. A licence is given to those who want to mine for gold. It was not free but, very expensive.

What was a gold licence?What was a gold licence?

The diggers had to have a gold licence to mine

for gold.

Why did the diggers have a gold licence?Why did the diggers have a gold licence?

They were unhappy because it was unfair to the diggers. It cost them money and some of them could not afford it. A gold licence cost 30 shillings a month. Some of the people were poor that’s why they were digging for gold. Miners had to buy a licence even if they found gold or not.

Why were the people on the gold fields Why were the people on the gold fields unhappy about the licences?unhappy about the licences?

The Eureka The Eureka Stockade! Stockade!

Activity 6

For one pound the miner could mine for gold and be able to vote for government.

The Miners Right was taken away in 1989 when the Mineral Resources Bill came in.

What rights did the miners have?What rights did the miners have?

The Stockade was a barrier made from wood, planks, sticks and other objects to hold back any attackers or enemies.

Eureka is a location in Ballarat, so the stockade was named The Eureka Stockade.

What was the Eureka Stockade?What was the Eureka Stockade?

The burning of the licences.

The acquittal of James Bentley for the murder of James Scobi.

The arrest of Gregorious for not having a licence and then refusing to walk back with a trooper.

What were the causes of the Eureka What were the causes of the Eureka Stockade?Stockade?

7th October 1854 -The murder of James Scobi, outside the Eureka Hotel.

14th October 1854 – The Ballarat bank robbery.

17th October 1854 - A meeting of up to 10,000 diggers is held near the Eureka Hotel to protest against Bentley’s acquittal. The meeting results in the burning of the Eureka Hotel.

30th November1854 - The march up to Bakery Hill.

What were the main events What were the main events that lead to the stockade?that lead to the stockade?

The miners oath was, "We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties.”

What was the miners’ oath?What was the miners’ oath?

The Eureka Flag is dark blue with a southern cross. With stars on all four corners and one in the middle.

The Southern cross flag is still used today by many groups and organizations as a symbol of fighting for freedom and many other causes. For example, in the 1960s the flag became strongly associated with the Builders' Labourers Federation, in 1998 Pauline Hanson used the symbol of Eureka as part of her 'One Nation' publicity and much more.

What does the Eureka Flag look like? What does the Eureka Flag look like? Is it used today?Is it used today?

The People & the The People & the ConsequencesConsequences

Activity 7

Who were the main people, or the leaders Who were the main people, or the leaders of the different groups?of the different groups?

Governor Charles Joseph La Trobe –

Governor Charles was called Joe for short. The diggers yelled out Joe! Joe! Joe!, when the troopers were coming.

Peter Lalor -

Peter Lalor was the leader of the stockade. He told the miners to burn their licenses and that’s what they did. When the battle was on Lalor went into hiding, when he came out he was elected for parliament.

After the Eureka Stockade the monthly licences fee was stopped and they charged a fee of 1 pound a year.

Mining companies set up mining equipment to mine for gold.

Peter Lalor went into parliament to represent the Ballarat people and help improve their living conditions.

How did things change after the How did things change after the Eureka Stockade?Eureka Stockade?

The Eureka Stockade is called the cradle of Australian democracy because this is when people started fighting for what they believed and thought was right. From then on the people of Australia were more confident to put forward what things they needed from the government.

The Eureka Stockade is sometimes called ‘the The Eureka Stockade is sometimes called ‘the cradle of Australian democracy’ why?cradle of Australian democracy’ why?

Thank You For Thank You For Listening!Listening!