The British class system is challenged

The Eureka Flag was orginally flown during the Eureka Rebellion of 1854 on the goldfields of Ballarat.

From the beginning of the gold rush the diggers on the NSW and Victorian goldfields had many grievances (PDF 255kB) about the licence¹ fee paid to the government and the methods used by the police or traps to collect the fees.

Many miners who arrived on the goldfields from British colonies saw Australia as an escape from British rule and its oppressive class system².

But Australia was a British colony; therefore the laws, and the system of government, were the same.

The diggers wanted more; they wanted a democratic³ and egalitarian⁴ society.

A fight for democracy

Lambing Flat roll-up banner

1. How democratic was the way of life on the goldfields?

Investigate what it was like for Chinese⁵ miners. Record an audio presentation (DOCX 123kB) with Audacity or Anchor, or write a letter.

2. Watch a video clip about the issue of gold licences and Victorian Governor Hotham’s reaction to it (click here⁶ for transcript and notes).

Answer questions on a worksheet (DOCX 135kB).

3. Are taxes necessary?

Persuade (DOCX 130kB) miners that the gold tax is an important means of obtaining revenue to develop the economy.

4. Riot or rebellion? List (DOCX 120kB) the miners’ grievances⁷ and examine how the events⁸ of 7^th October 1854 triggered the formation of the Ballarat Reform League Charter⁹.

Witness the raising of the flag of the Southern Cross at a monster meeting¹⁰ on Bakery Hill as a result of the increased licence hunts.

5. Research (DOCX 122kB) the symbolism of the Eureka flag.

‘We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and freedom.’ Peter Lalor

Miners swear allegiance to flag of Southern Cross

6. Search for images¹¹ such as drawings, paintings and photographs, which tell the story of the fight for liberty and justice culminating in the Eureka uprising.

Use the images to construct a timeline of events.

7. The Eureka uprising was the turning point in British rule. Post your opinion on a blog.

The class system is challenged

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