Mining licence fees were enforced in 1851 at a rate of 30 shillings per month. By 1854 this was equivalent to twice the average weekly wage for a miner. Alluvial gold, the gold close to the surface, was becoming harder to find so miners were forced to dig holes as far as fifty metres down to find gold. They would work incredibly hard for months with little to no return which meant it was getting harder and harder for them to survive. The licence was compulsory whether gold was found or not so diggers felt that it was an unjust tax on their labour. Gold commissioners and police would roam the gold fields checking for licences and arrest, fine and lock-up anyone who could not produce one. These searches often involved intimidation, aggression and corruption and came to symbolise the government’s oppression of the diggers. They were angry, disgruntled and fed up.

 

In June, Victoria instated a new Governor, Sir Charles Hotham. He was under pressure to raise revenue due to the growing population and demands on infrastructure so decided to increase the licence checks to twice a week. This caused further tension and resentment grew among the miners. With many resentful diggers now on the gold fields, a series of events, beginning with the beating and subsequent death of a Scottish miner by publican and ex-convict James Bentley, who was acquitted for the murder by a corrupt magistrate, led to the Eureka Stockade. These events included a riot and the burning down of Bentley’s hotel as well as protests by miners who were demanding the abolition of the gold licence, the right to vote and the release of 3 diggers gaoled for the hotel fire.

 

On 29th November 12,000 diggers met on Bakery Hill hoisting the Southern Cross flag which was soon to become the Eureka Flag. It was here the diggers decided they would publically burn their licences. In retribution a licence search was ordered by the Gold Commissioner the next day, leaving the minors incensed and the goldfields in uproar. Peter Lalor, an Irish immigrant, took charge and after swearing an oath with a few hundred miners, lead them to the Eureka diggings where they erected a stockade. About four feet high it was made of wooden slabs, reinforced by carts and covered roughly an acre of land. Men took up arms and secured themselves behind the wooden structure pledging to defend the barrier. By Saturday night the attitude was rather relaxed with no expectation of battle so diggers left their posts. Many, after a night of drinking return to their tents, leaving about 120 to guard the stockade. On Sunday 3rd December 1854, while most of the diggers slept, 300 soldiers and police lead a pre-dawn attack. All over in about 20 minutes, the fighting was brutal and vicious. 22 – 30 diggers were killed (the exact number is not known as no official list of the dead and wounded was ever compiled) but many more were injured. Five soldiers were killed and 12 wounded. Lalor escaped but was wounded in the shoulder and eventually had to have his arm amputated. Thirteen diggers were committed for trial but all were acquitted in February 1858.

 

In March the miner’s licence was replaced by a ‘miner’s right’, costing only one pound a year and an export duty was placed on gold in order to recoup the lost revenue. In November minors holding a ‘miner’s right’ were permitted to vote and elected Peter Lalor to represent the seat of Ballarat as Member of the Legislative Council.