The Eureka Stockade

The birth of DEMOCRACY in Australia

A 5PR 2011 story

The Discovery of Gold

August 1851

Gold was found in many areas of Victoria sparking a rush to the new diggings. The population exploded.

Licences.

  September, 1851 All males have to buy a monthly licence before they can dig for gold. Troopers

are sent to the diggings to enforce this new law. Gold Commissioner Doveton is sent to Ballarat. Diggers believe the licence fee is too expensive and do not like the way they are treated by the troopers.

Murder

 

 7 October 1854James Scobie is murdered near the Eureka Hotel in Ballarat. Many diggers

believe the owner of the hotel, James Bentley, is guilty. When Bentley gets off, the diggers believe it is proof that the troopers and judges are corrupt.

A Flag is Made

November 1854 Captain Ross, a Canadian, has asked women supporters of the miners to sew a

flag. A white cross with stars at each point is sewn onto a blue background. The flag of the “Southern Cross” is made representing the constellation of the Southern Cross, which most diggers first saw when sailing to Australia.

Monster Meetings

 November 1854 The Ballarat Reform League is created at a monster meeting on Bakery Hill. A petition to

the Governor demands a change to the licence system. Diggers swear an oath to defend their rights and liberties under the Eureka flag.

The petition is rejected by the undemocratic government.

The Stockade is attacked.

 3 December 1854 At sunrise on Sunday 3rd December, 296 well armed troops and police

attack 120 diggers in the Eureka stockade. About 20 diggers and bystanders and 6 soldiers are killed. 120 diggers are arrested and the rebellion is brutally crushed.

13 diggers are ordered to stand trial for treason.

The Diggers win their fight for Democracy

 By the end of March 1855, all 13 Eureka prisoners are found not guilty of treason. They are carried

like heroes down Melbourne’s main Streets. New laws bring reforms to the goldfields, the licence system is abolished and Peter Lalor and John

Humffray are elected as new Members of Parliament representing Ballarat. All adult males in Victoria now have the right to vote.

Australian democracy is born at Eureka.

A Big thank you to our instructor at Sovereign Hill

and to Tracey and Shane for helping out o the day!