Eureka Stockade
Eureka lead, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
What happened
Gold miners led by Peter Lalor faced colonial soldiers and police led by Captain John Wellesley Thomas, sent by the government of Lieutenant-Governor Charles Hotham. Gold miners at Ballarat were angry about costly mining licences and having no vote. They swore an oath under a new flag, the Eureka Flag, and built a stockade. At dawn on Sunday 3 December 1854, government forces attacked, and the stockade was taken within a short time.
Why it matters
Why it matters: Although the rebellion was put down, most of the miners' demands, such as the vote for all adult men, were soon granted. Many people see it as the birth of Australian democracy, though historians debate this.
What came next
Thirteen miners were tried for treason in 1855, and all were found not guilty. Peter Lalor was elected to the colony's parliament in 1856.
Did you know?
Large pieces of the original Eureka Flag are displayed in Ballarat, and the flag has become a national symbol.
Timeline
- 1851Gold is discovered near Ballarat.
- 3 December 1854Government forces attack the Eureka Stockade.
- 1855Thirteen miners are tried for treason and acquitted.
- 1856Peter Lalor is elected to the Legislative Assembly.
- 1884The Eureka Stockade Monument is unveiled.