Eureka Stockade
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In the mid 1850's there was a gold rush in Ballarat. The government imposed a license fee on the miners who could not vote. Unsurprisingly, this led to a rebellion which took place in 1854 with the Eureka Hotel as the center of organizational activity. Soon a defensive stockade was erected and a battle between the miners and government forces ensued. In ten minutes the government overwhelmed the miners with an official death count of 27 miners. A trial for treason resulted in not guilty verdicts. Ultimately in 1857 suffrage was given to white males, an act which is regarded by some as marking the beginning of Australian democracy. The pictures are of the memorial. The final picture is from Wikipedia, “Eureka-restored” which is also known as “The Southern Cross”. It is housed in the Art Gallery of Ballarat.
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