oct 6, 1854 - FE: Eureka

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"A violent uprising has taken place at the goldfields of Ballarat, where a group of miners, known as the diggers, have clashed with the colonial authorities over the issue of mining licences. The rebellion, known as the Eureka Rebellion or the Eureka Stockade, was sparked by the arrest of a digger named James Scobie, who was accused of assaulting a hotel owner on 6 October 1854. The diggers protested against the arrest and demanded an investigation, but the police refused to listen. The diggers also resented the system of mining licences, which required them to pay a monthly fee of 30 shillings to mine for gold, regardless of their success or failure. The licence fee was seen as an unfair tax and a source of corruption, as the police often harassed and fined the diggers who could not produce their licences on demand. The diggers formed a reform association, led by Peter Lalor, an Irish-born engineer and activist. They held meetings and rallies, and drafted a charter of rights and demands, such as universal suffrage, abolition of the licence fee, and representation in parliament. They also prepared for a possible confrontation with the authorities, by building a stockade, a makeshift fortification, at the Eureka Lead, a rich gold-bearing area near Ballarat. They also hoisted a flag of their own design, featuring a white cross on a blue background and five white stars representing the Southern Cross constellation. On 3 December 1854, about 300 armed diggers gathered inside the stockade, ready to defend their rights and liberties. However, they were outnumbered and outgunned by a force of about 276 police and soldiers, who attacked the stockade at dawn. The battle lasted for about 20 minutes, resulting in the death of 22 diggers and six troopers. The surviving diggers were captured and taken to Melbourne, where they faced trial for high treason. However, most of them were acquitted by sympathetic juries, who saw them as heroes rather than traitors. The Eureka Rebellion was a failure in terms of achieving its immediate goals, but it had a lasting impact on Australian democracy and identity, as it inspired many people to demand political and social reforms, such as electoral reform, land reform, and workers’ rights. It also became a symbol of Australian nationalism and republicanism, as well as a source of artistic and cultural expression. "

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