-
Licence Fee Increased
The cost of a gold mining licenece is increased. Diggers are outraged at the news. Seen as an unjust decision, especially as it comes from corrupt governemnet authorities and police. -
Lt Governor Sir Charles Hotham arrives
The colony of Victoria is found to be facing huge finanicial debts. As a result of this the new governor, Sir Charles Hotham, orders weekly licence hunts in attempts to increase income. -
Licence Hunts
The colony of Victoria is still desperate to pay debts so Governor Hotham orders the hunt for diggers without licences to be upped to twice a week. -
Murder of James Scobie and Release of Bentley
Digger James Scobie is mudered outside the Eureka Hotel. Many believe the owner of the hotel, Bentley, was guilty but the Magistrate realesed. The verdict causes distress amoung Scobie's fellow diggers who believed the only reason Bentley was released was because he was friends with the Magistrate. -
Eureka Hotel is Burnt Down
Bentley's Eureka hotel is burnt down by a gathering of over 10,000 diggers at the conclusion of a meeting they held in protest of Bentley's release. Policemen and authorities are unable to stop them and the comissioner is egged. -
Ballarat Reform League
A meeting is held on Bakery Hill and the Ballarat Reform League is officialy founded. Their aim is to provide all diggers with equal rights and fair representation. -
Another Meeting Bakery Hill
Another meeting is held at Bakery Hill with an even larger crowd in attendance. The diggers decide to publicly burn their licences, the authorities here of this and order a licence hunt for the following morning. -
Construction of The Stockade
Another mass burning of licences takes place at Bakery Hill with the participents then being lead by Peter Lalor to the Eureka Diggings. Here a barricade is made out of unpturned miners carts and bits of wood. Inside the stockade 500 diggers took an oath on the Southern Cross. -
Attack on the Barricade
In the early hours of the morning the authorities and police launch an attack on the diggers inside the barricade. The diggers were outnumbered two to one and the battle was over in twenty minutes. Five troops were killed compared to twenty two diggers.Peter Lalor is smuggled out of the stockade. -
Protest meeting in Melbourne
A meeting is held in Melbourne to protest the treatment of the miners under Governor Hotham and the authorities. -
Gold Fields Comission Recommend Abolishment of Licences
The recently started Gold Fields Comission meet with Governor Hotham and recommend that the miners licence be abolished. -
Rights of Miners Implemented
The Gold Comission presents Governor Hotham with a final report abolishing all gold licences. He agrees. -
Peter Lalor Elected
Peter Lalor is elected into the Legislative Council.