VISITOR GUIDE EUREKA CENTRE BALLARAT Welcome to the Eureka Centre Ballarat Each year we welcome people from around the world who seek a meaningful connection to one of Australia’s most significant foundation stories – the Eureka Rebellion. The Eureka Centre respectfully At the Eureka Centre, we explore the social history and cultural acknowledges the Wadawurrung People impact of the Victorian goldrush and honour the stories of the men as the Traditional Owners of the land on which and women who risked their lives in the fight for miners’ rights. the Eureka Centre stands. We pay our respects The Eureka Centre is located at the Eureka Stockade Memorial to Elders past, present and emerging. We Park, considered to be the site of the 1854 Eureka Stockade where acknowledge their continuing connections the rebellion took place. It is home to one of the country’s most to Country and Culture. compelling historic artefacts – the Eureka Flag. The Eureka Stockade was a hastily erected wooden fort. It was just The Wadawurrung People are the Traditional as quickly dismantled following the attack by government forces on Owners of the land on which the Eureka 3 December 1854. Although, no tangible evidence of the structure Rebellion took place. While the Eureka Stockade remains, archaeological evidence was uncovered at the site between led to male suffrage in 1858 and informed the 1996 and 2012 that dates to the time of the Eureka Stockade. social reforms that followed, it was over 100 The Eureka Stockade Memorial Park is a place to contemplate the years until Australia’s First Nations People legacy and honour those involved in Eureka. People visit the Eureka were able to exercise the right to vote. Centre for many reasons. Some are descendants of those involved in the battle; others come to reflect on Eureka’s impact on Australian democracy and culture. Many people have strong feelings about Eureka and there are differing interpretations of both its history and legacy. We recognise the value of diverse opinions and are here to help guide visitors through the Eureka story and site. The battle was swift and deadly The battle at Eureka, known as the The Eureka Story – it was over within 20 minutes. Eureka Stockade, resulted in an Six soldiers and 22 rebels were investigation into the administration of registered as casualties. The exact the goldfields, called a Commission of Why did you disregard our memorials and death toll remains a subject of Enquiry. This enquiry recommended “ debate but has been estimated as the abolition of the despised monthly entreaties…until the people, sickened by hope being as high as 60. There was a licence. In 1855 the miners won the heavy military presence in the town right to vote and further democratic deferred, and maddened by continued and immediately after the battle and more reforms followed. As Mark Twain wrote increased acts of oppression, were driven to people may have died during this after his 1895 visit to Ballarat, the time. Those who survived either fled Eureka Stockade ‘is another instance take up arms in self-defence? and went into hiding or were arrested. of a victory won by a lost battle’. CLARA SEEKAMP 13 rebels were tried for treason, 12 The Ballarat Times, 1 January 1855. were acquitted and charges against one were dropped. The battle of the Eureka Stockade Tensions continued to rise as the has an enduring place in the protesters felt the government was Australian consciousness and is ignoring their demands. Finally, heralded by many as the birth of the miners and their allies met and democracy in Australia. agreed to resist the authorities by building a timber stockade at a The announcement of the verdict In 1854, gold miners and their “ strategic position on the Eureka Lead, supporters protested what they of the jury was received with the in the heart of the gold mining area of saw as unjust regulations and Ballarat East and with a clear view of most vociferous demonstration law enforcement imposed by the the road from Melbourne. colonial government, including the of applause… Joseph was prohibitively expensive Gold License. Before dawn on 3 December 1854, immediately surrounded Unrest built for months across the 276 soldiers and police marched from central Victorian goldfields, but the Government Camp in the centre by hundreds of friends who especially in the busy goldrush of Ballarat, to confront the rebels. welcomed him with the most settlements of Bendigo and Ballarat. Only 120 people were at the stockade lively manifestations of joy. They were angry at the restrictive when the soldiers and police arrived JOHN rules around mining, land ownership as they were not expecting an attack ‘Friday, 23rd February 1855’ and the right to vote. on a Sunday morning. JOSEPH The Age, Melbourne, 24 February 1855. 1854 key dates 11 NovEMBER The Ballarat Reform League Charter is adopted, listing demands for reform, including representation in parliament. 27 NovEMBER Lieutenant Governor Charles Hotham rejects the Reform League Charter, My endeavour shall be to act honestly, leading to anger amongst its advocates. and for the good“ of the people. SIR CHARLES HOTHAM KCB 29 NovEMBER ‘Bring Your License’ meeting of 10,000 Lieutenant Governor of Victoria. gold miners at Bakery Hill. The Eureka Flag Speaking on 16 August 1854, as quoted in ‘Sir Charles Hotham’s is unfurled for the first time. Reception at Geelong’, The Argus, Melbourne, 17 August 1854. 30 NovEMBER The largest ever gold licence hunt, known as the ‘Digger Hunt’ is launched by authorities. 3 DECEMBER Troopers attack the stockade at dawn on a Sunday – the Christian day of worship. The timing of the attack outrages the community. 1855 FEBRUARY 13 rebels are charged with treason. None are found guilty. Whatever may“ have been the MARCH The Goldfields Commission object of our rulers in adopting the line recommends the abolition of the of policy they have pursued, the result has gold licence and its replacement with a more affordable Miner’s Right. been deplorable, and such, I hope, 1856 as a civilised people will never spring Peter Lalor, Leader of the Eureka again have to witness. Rebellion, and John Humffray, PETER LALOR Secretary of the Ballarat Reform Leader of the Eureka rebels. League are elected to the ‘The Ballarat Rebellion’, The Age, Melbourne, 19 April 1855. Legislative Assembly of Victoria. The Eureka FLAG The Eureka Centre is home to the in height and 4 metres in width. It is Eureka Flag, on loan from the Art made of cotton and wool. The flag Gallery of Ballarat. The flag was known has missing sections that were cut to the Eureka rebels as the Australian out as souvenirs. Occasionally these Flag, though it is catalogued as the fragments reappear, and many are held ‘Flag of the Southern Cross’. It was in museum collections. first raised at a Ballarat Reform League In 1973 the Art Gallery of Ballarat meeting on the 29 November 1854 at received a grant to repair and display Bakery Hill. The flag’s design features the Eureka Flag. Ballarat seamstress a white cross with five stars on a blue Val D’Angri led the conservation effort. background, inspired by the Southern Prime Minister Gough Whitlam unveiled Cross constellation. the flag on the 3 December 1973. He The history of the design and used the launch as an opportunity to making of the Eureka Flag is a position the Eureka story as central to source of passionate debate. Evidence Australia’s national identity. In 2011, points to the flag being designed by the flag was treated for a second time Canadian miner and Eureka rebel, in accordance with contemporary Henry Ross. A popular view, supported conservation standards. The flag was by oral histories, is that it was then installed in a purpose-built case at sewn by three women, Anne the Eureka Centre. Duke, Anastasia Hayes and Illustration of the ‘Flag of the Southern Cross (Eureka Flag)’, 1854. The appropriation of the Anastasia Withers. There is Collection of the Art Gallery of Ballarat. Eureka Flag by groups another theory that it was representing divergent made by professional ideologies has a long tentmakers. history. The flag has a strong It is believed that association with the trade police trooper John King union movement, but in recent souvenired the flag after times has been adopted as an [I call] on all my fellow-diggers, the attack on the Eureka expression of political, subcultural irrespective of nationality,“ religion, Stockade. In the 1890s, or personal identity by many King’s family loaned the individuals and groups. The and colour, to salute the “Southern Cross” flag to the Art Gallery different ways in which the flag as the refuge of all the oppressed from of Ballarat and his has been embraced is a reminder descendants donated of Eureka’s enduring resonance. all countries on earth. it in 2001. The flag RAFFAELLO CARBONI measures 2.6 metres ANASTASIA HAYES The Eureka Stockade, 1855 PETER LALOR CAPTAIN HENRY WISE EUREKA STOCKADE MEMORIAL PARK The Eureka Stockade The 1884 monument remains Memorial Park is the site the centrepiece of the park, of the Eureka Lead goldfield, though other commemorative where the Eureka Stockade and interpretative elements have was constructed and defended been added over the years. A by protesting miners. Today walk through the park is a richly it is the focal point for layered experience. the commemoration and LAKE BLUE ATLAS THE The park features two distinct interpretation of the Eureka story. PENHALLURIAK CEDAR PLAYGROUND landscapes. The heritage In 1869 Ballarat East Council landscape to the south and Lake Penhalluriak has One of the most The playground was decided to mark the site of the east of the lake features its origins as a mining significant trees in the built in 2012 to reflect Eureka Stockade.