Introduction

• Beneath the starry flag of rebellion, that oath was taken by hundreds of gold diggers at Ballarat in 1854.

What Is It?

• The Eureka Stockade was the setting for the gold miners Revolution in 1854 near Ballarat, Victoria.

• The revolution was prompted by heavily priced mining items (e.g. Licenses, Picks and axes)

Who?

Who started it

• Peter Lalor was the leader of the miners who fought at the Eureka Stockade.

• He started protests and a fight against the government

James Scobie

• James Scobie was a Scottish miner. He was killed in a protest in the Eureka hotel now known as Bentley's Hotel.

This is a poster for the capture of Peter Lalor and George Black, Two fugitives from the rebellion of the eureka miners.

THE CONFLICT

DEATHS

• According to Lalor's report, fourteen miners (mostly Irish) died inside the stockade and an additional eight died later from injuries they sustained.

More Deaths

• Killing was indiscriminate, bodies were mutilated, tents set on fire, and nearby stores were burnt and pillaged (store owners and others later received compensation for this destruction).

The Battle

• 800 police came from Melbourne to back up the Ballarat police.

• 120 diggers were arrested during the fight.

THE FLAG

• The Eureka Flag was flown for the first time on Bakery Hill, Ballarat, Australia as a symbol of the resistance of the gold miners during the Eureka Stockade rebellion in 1854.

The Famous Quote

• Beneath this flag, Peter Lalor, leader of the Ballarat Reform League, swore this oath to the affirmation of his fellow demonstrators: "We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties."

Design

• According to Frank Cayley's book, Flag of Stars, the flag's five stars represent the Southern Cross, and the white cross joining the stars represents unity in defiance.

The Flag Today

• The original flag is located in the Ballarat fine art gallery.

Pictures

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Nerrena_Fossickers_in_the_Creek_Nerrena.jpg