THE EUREKA STOCKADE PART I
Gold was first found in Australia in 1851 in Bathurst, New South Wales. In the following months gold was found in many places in New South Wales and Victoria. News spread quickly, enticing more and more fortune hunters from around the world, from such diverse places as Ireland, China, England, Italy, Germany. People who thought at last that they would lift themselves and their children out of generations of poverty, as well as those who just had gold fever in their eyes.
Gold Fever had come to Australia. Men here and around the world threw in what employment they had, left their families behind and came to seek riches from the "yellow stuff". One of the diggings that attracted large numbers was Ballarat in the independent colony of Victoria.
Colonial governments were dismayed at the sudden influx of all sorts of people, some of whom they considered as the lowest types of humanity and were concerned for the future of society in Australia. Gold fever, drink and the anguish of those who had given up everything for the dream of riches and not found them brought out the worst in human nature. Drunkenness, prostitution, rape, frequent fights and even murder over the precious yellow metal they all craved were a normal part of life on the diggings.
Governments introduced licences for the right to dig for gold, both to try to stop the numbers coming into the goldfields and, of course, to increase government revenue. "The bloody licence tax" as it was commonly referred to by the diggers, caused unrest and anger as most did not have the money to pay for these licences.
By 1854 there was serious unrest on all the goldfields because of the licence system and the corruption involved. Bribes and friendship with authorities obtained licences for some, while others missed out. The frequent licence checks by armed police, led to arrests and fines. Unlicensed miners were chained to trees and sometimes sentenced by the magistrates to work on the new roads for the colony.
By 1854 the diggers of Bendigo, Ballarat and other diggings had many times sent large delegations to Melbourne to protest about the licences. At times it seemed the government listened, but soon changed its mind about any concessions on the licences.
In mid 1854 Governor Charles Joseph La Trobe was replaced by Sir Charles Hotham as the new Governor, a career naval man who enjoyed playing the martinet. When Hotham discovered that about half the miners were not paying their licence fees, he ordered that this be strictly enforced. The police, called "traps" by the miners, were ordered to check the licences twice a week.
The murder of a miner, James Scobie, at the Eureka Hotel, at Ballarat, by the publican J. F. Bentley and his associates on the night of 6-7 October 1854, who were subsequently found to have no case to answer by the court just added fuel to the fire that was set to erupt on the Ballarat goldfields.
This so enraged the diggers that they met on 17 October 1854 to discuss the matter. The more moderate amongst them urged that lawful means by used to bring the matter before more competent authorities and this was agreed to. It wasn't long before Henry Westerby, a well-known trouble-stirrer inflamed by drink, suggested that they "smoke" Bentley out. At this critical time, Commissioner Rede, commissioner of the goldfields decided to show his authority by sending a detachment of soldiers to parade at the edge of the mob.
With the help of some mates, Westerby set fire to the hotel, which burned to the ground in a matter of two hours. Bentley escaped the flames and the mob.
When the news reached Melbourne, the Governor ordered that Bentley and his accomplices stand trial for the murder of Scobie and that Westerby and his accomplices also be arrested for burning the hotel.
These events coupled with the grievances over the licences set the stage for what was to follow.
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