A Eureka Moment
The story that is central to Ballarat's history, and many of its attractions, is that of the Eureka Uprising in 1854. The story goes like this: After gold was discovered, the government introduced gold licenses, charging miners even if they came up empty-handed. The miners had to buy a license every month, and corrupt gold-field police (many of whom were former convicts) instituted a vicious campaign to extract the money. When license checks intensified in 1854, resentment flared. Prospectors began demanding political reforms, such as the right to vote, parliamentary elections, and secret ballots. The situation exploded when the Eureka Hotel's owner murdered a miner but was set free by the government. The hotel was burned down in revenge, and more than 20,000 prospectors joined together, burned their licenses in a huge bonfire, and built a stockade over which they raised a flag. Troops arrived at the "Eureka Stockade" the next month, but only 150 miners remained. The stockade was attacked at dawn, with 24 miners killed and 30 wounded. The uprising forced the government to act: The licenses were replaced with "miners' rights" and cheaper fees, and the vote was introduced to Victoria. It was a definitive moment in Australia's history and the Eureka flag is still a potent (and often controversial) symbol of nationalism. The original flag is on display at the Art Gallery of Ballarat. After a two-year A$11-million redevelopment, the commemorative museum on the original site of the uprising on Eureka Street -- now called The Australian Centre for Democracy @ Eureka -- was scheduled at the time of this writing to reopen in July 2012. For updates, check www.eurekaballarat.com.
