Ballarat Reform League Inc. Chewton Monument
With the news of further discoveries of gold more and more people rushed to seek their fortune. The Forest Creek Diggings, near Mount Alexander, saw the few diggers that arrived in September 1851 become a multitude by November 1851 as word got out about the abundance of gold being found there.
The colonial government in Melbourne proposed doubling the already unpopular licence fee from 30 shillings to three pounds, paid in advance. The resentment and frustration expressed by the diggers at this new outrage led to a public meeting near the shepherd's hut on the Forest Creek Diggings at 4pm on 15th December 1851. It is believed that around 14,000 people attended the meeting.
Because of the huge numbers of diggers that came to the meeting it became known as The Great Meeting of Diggers.
The meeting was a peaceful one. It was recorded in a drawing by David Tulloch and later engraved by Thomas Ham. The image of the engraving as well as early maps and drawings of the Diggings at Forest Creek were used to determine the exact site of the meeting in what from 1856 became known as Chewton.
The monument to this significant meeting is placed near the site of the former shepherd's hut.
Location of the Chewton monument
Golden Point Rd, Chewton. Turn north off the Pyrenees Highway, where there is a prominent sign indicating the direction. The plaques are on the left hand side of Golden Point Road, less than half a kilometre from the turn-off.
Also See
Ballarat Reform League Inc. Monuments Project
Ballarat Reform League Inc. Chewton Monument
