EUREKA STOCKADE: RIOT OR REBELLION?
One of the most violent events in the goldfields occurred in Ballarat, Victoria and has come to be
known as the Eureka Stockade. There was a bloody clash between diggers and the military.
Read the play ‘Eureka: What the flag means’ to try and understand what led to the Eureka Stockade,
in Ballarat in 1854.
1. Draw an image of the Eureka flag and label its key elements.
2. List 4 problems the miners faced, daily:
a)
b)
c)
d)
3.
4.
5.
6.
How well did the authorities handle a conflict involving a publican’s hotel and a murder?
Why did miners organise to create a flag and swear to an oath?
Describe the stockade the miners built
On what date did the clash between police and miners happen? Who won?
Looking at evidence
Look at the following accounts of the clash at Eureka. Five facts emerge:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
There was a bloody clash between military and diggers
The battle took place at Eureka, Ballarat.
It occurred early on Sunday morning, 3 December 1854
Men on both sides were killed or wounded.
The diggers were defeated
EVALUATING HISTORICAL SOURCES
a) Article from a local newspaper
b) A government notice
Compare the two accounts of the attack and answer the following questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What is the basic disagreement between the two reports
Which side is the newspaper reporter on?
Why would he take sides?
Which report do you believe?
Where is the government notice showing bias in its account of events?
Results of the clash
About 22 miners were killed and some wounded, including Peter Lalor their leader.
Men were taken prisoner and leaders charged with treason, but were later acquitted.
The licence system was changed; in place of the licences was a 10 pound miner’s right that entitled
the miner to a vote.
Peter Lalor
Peter Lalor was Irish. In 1852 he came to Australia to try his luck on the goldfields. Lalor became
involved in the cause of the miners and was the leader in the fight to have their grievances heard
and solved. As a result of the short Eureka Stockade, at which Lalor lost his arm, he became famous.
He escaped capture. A year later he was elected to the first Victorian parliament and served for
many years.
Go to ABC Splash and locate ‘The speech at Bakery Hill’.
Listen to it as well as read the transcript. Make notes on the following questions.
Then write your script.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What was he asking the men to do? (0.53 sec)
What was the oath he asked them to swear to? (2.07 min)
Why were squatters better off than miners? (3.57 min)
What were some of the miners’ reasons for protesting in this way? (5.31 min)
Why is this event seen by many as a rebellion, rather than a riot? (11.17 min)
Your task is to use information about his famous speech to miners, calling them to stand up for their
rights. There were 1500 who heard his speech, and 500 approximately remained to rebel at Eureka.
The others did not wish to take up arms (weapons).
Choose from one of the following scenarios to create a short play (one scene)
Time: 1 to 2 minutes.
Present it live or record a performance.
Work in groups of 3.
1. You and two other miners are listening to Peter Lalor’s speech inviting you to use weapons
to take a stand against the unfair licensing system. Write what you will say and do.
2. You are troopers descending on the miners. What do you say to each other, as you are about
to charge forward?
3. It is a year after the battle. You have been acquitted of criminal charges. You are meeting to
remember and reflect. What do you say?