Difference between revisions of "Eureka Timeline"

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Governor [[Charles Hotham]] dies at Melbourne.  
 
Governor [[Charles Hotham]] dies at Melbourne.  
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== 1856 ==
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=== May 1856 ===
 +
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Costs relating to the Eureka Stockade were released.
 +
::We have Melbourne papers to the 17th. inst, A Council paper, just published, states that an outlay of £26, 733 18s. 6d. was incurred by the Ballarat riots, —the items being as follows : Expenditure for military, £19,871 0s. l0d.; police, £230 18s. ; conjointly for both services, £5119 13s. 8d.; contingencies, £1512 6s.<ref> Tasmanian Daily News, 22 May 1856.</ref>
  
 
== 1884 ==
 
== 1884 ==

Revision as of 16:42, 14 May 2017

Eugene von Guerard, Old Ballarat as it was in the summer of 1853-54, 1884, oil on canvas, mounted on board, Art Gallery of Ballarat Collection, Gift of James Oddie on Eureka Day, 1885.
Gold License, 01 May 1854, Federation University Historical Collection.
Down With License Fee Poster Displayed at Sovereign Hill, 2016.
Ballarat Heritage Services Picture Collection
Charles A. Doudiet, Swearing allegiance to the 'Southern Cross’, 1854, watercolour, pen and ink on paper.
Courtesy Art Gallery of Ballarat, purchased by the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery with the assistance of many donors, 1996.

Eureka Timeline

1851

08 August

Gold discovered at Buninyong by Thomas Hiscock.

19 September

Ballarat's first Gold Commissioner, Francis Doveton, arrives at Ballarat.

1853

13 June

Bendigo diggers met to protest at the gold license fee and other grievances. It was determined to start collecting signatures for a 'Monster Petition'.

16 July

Around 6,000 miners attended an anti-license meeting at Bendigo.

01 August

The Bendigo Goldfields Petition was presented to Lieutenant-Governor Charles La Trobe. It boasted over 5,000 miners from across the Victorian goldfields and stretched for more than 13 metres in length. In response, the colonial government proposed doubling the cost of a miner's licence and the Governor of Victoria Sir Charles Hotham (1806–1855) ordered more frequent licence inspections. [1]

21 August

A huge meeting was held at Bendigo. Diggers agreed not to pay next month's license and wear red ribbons to advertise non-payment of the license fee.

24 September

A new act reduced the licence to 40 shillings for three months.[2]


1854

Gold Workings Ballarat, c1854 State Library of Victoria Collection ( H25191}

March

New Constitution Bill for Victoria and Bill to extend the Elective Franchise (conferring vote on holder of 12 months mining licence with certain residence qualifications) sent to England.v

28 March

The Crimean War starts when Great Britain and France declare war on Russia. [3]

May

Charles Joseph La Trobe - study by Sir Francis Grant. This portrait of La Trobe was subscribed for by the colonists of Victoria in 1855. It hangs in the Melbourne Town Hall Melbourne. Two less finished versions were also made by the artist for the family. This version was done for La Trobe himself and remained in the family until it was donated to the State Library of Victoria in 1954. State Library of Victoria Collection (H92.360/162)

Departure of Governor Charles La Trobe. Henry Foster acts at Lieut-Governor pending Charles Hotham's arrival.[4]

16 May

Chief Commissioner Wright recommends Robert Rede to fill the position of resident Commissioner at Ballarat. [5]

June

Robert Rede becomes Ballarat’s resident Gold Commissioner.

22 June

Captain Sir Charles Hotham arrives in Melbourne to take up the position of Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria. [6]

August

Arrival of Governor Charles Hotham.[7]

26 August

Governor Charles Hotham and Lady Hotham visit Ballarat. [8]

September

Governor Hotham orders license inspections twice weekly instead of once per month.[9]

07 October

James Scobie was murdered near the Eureka Hotel owned by Francis Bentley. The inquest was held the same day and despite evidence implicating James Bentley the verdict pronounced James Scobie's wounds were inflicted by unknown person. [10]

09 October

James Bentley, Catherine Bentley and John Farrell were arrested for the murder of James Scobie.

10 October

Johannes Gregorius, the disabled Armenian servant of father Patrick Smyth failed to produce a license when requested by Constable James Lord. The policeman reportedly beat Gregorius. A priest's servant was not required to carry a license.

12 October

Charles A. Doudiet, watercolour on paper, 1854, watercolour, on paper.
Courtesy Art Gallery of Ballarat, purchased by the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery with the assistance of many donors, 1996.

Magisterial Enquiry discharges James Bentley. [11]

17 October

A mass meeting of around 10,000 was held near the site of James Scobie's murder. They wanted a more thorough investigation of his death. As time passed the crowd grew aggressive. The hotel was looted and burnt to the ground. [12]

19 October

Police reinforcements arrived in Ballarat.

21 October

Andrew McIntyre, and Thomas Fletcher and Westerby were arrested for their alleged part in the destruction of the Eureka Hotel, [13] and charged with riot.[14]

A meeting was held on Bakery Hill where those in attendance agreed tp pay the bail Andrew McIntyre and Thomas Fletcher.[15]

25 October

Protest Meeting against the treatment of Father Patrick Smyth's servant, Gregorius.[16]

27 October

Garrison Commander Captain John Thomas developed a detailed plan for the defence of the Government Camp at Ballarat.[17]

11 November

Charles A. Doudiet, Swearing allegiance to the 'Southern Cross’, 1854, watercolour, pen and ink on paper.
Courtesy Art Gallery of Ballarat, purchased by the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery with the assistance of many donors, 1996.

The Ballarat Reform League officially came into existence on this day, although it had been active for several weeks,[18] after 10,000 diggers met on Bakery Hill for public meeting [19]

17 November

Governor Charles Hotham announced his attention to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the administration of the Gold Fields. [20]

18 November

James Bentley, Thomas Farrell and William Hance were convicted of the manslaughter of James Scobie. Catherine Bentley was found not guilty. [21]

23 November

James Bentley is convicted of manslaughter of James Scobie.[22]

25 November

McIntyre, Fletcher and Westerby were convicted of 'riot'.[23]

27 November

Ballarat Reform League representatives J.B. Humffray, George Black and Thomas Kennedy met with Governor Charles Hotham to demand the release of the prisoners. [24]

28 November

Reinforcements - Troops Arriving from Melbourne, This image shows the Camp at Ballarat West, know Camp Street. Ballarat Heritage Services Picture Collection.

A detachment of the 12th Regiment entered Ballarat, passing though the Eureka Lead. They were attacked by angry diggers. Drummer John Egan, and civilian transport diver, Young, were wounded.


A dinner was held at Ballarat to the American Consul, James Tarleton. Distant shots were heard during the dinner and officials left hurriedly. James McGill rushed in and whispered a password, thought to be the Celtic 'Faugh-a-balagh' meaning 'clear the way. The diners knew the army was on the way.[25]

29 November

Over 10,000 people attended a 'Monster meeting' on Bakery Hill. [26]

30 November

In the late afternoon on [Bakery Hill] diggers swore an oath by the Southern Cross to defend their rights. [27]

02 December

The Day Before the Battle from The Revolt at Eureka’ by R. Wenban. Schools Publishing House, 1959.

The building of the Eureka Stockade was completed.[28] Assistant Commissioner Gilbert Amos of the Eureka Camp was briefly held prisoner by some of the Stockaders and his horse taken.

03 December

Eureka Stockade battle

A meeting of the Ballarat Reform League was organised for 2pm on 03 December 1854 at the Adelphi Hotel. The intention was to elect a Central Committee, and that each 40 members would have the power to elect one member for the Central Committee. [29]

04 December

Governor Charles Hotham proclaims martial Law in Ballarat. [30]

04 December

Major-General Nickle arrives in Ballarat and takes command. In Melbourne a public meeting of over 4,000 people condemned the actions of the Government and called for the resignation of Foster.

05 December

A public meeting was held in Melbourne regarding measures to protect the city after the Eureka Stockade.

To the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Melbourne... [from] the undersigned Inhabitants of Melbourne considering the Unsettled State of a portion of the Diggings, and the necessity measures for the Better PROTECTION OF THE CITY, and upholding the cause of Law and Order, hereby request your Worship to convene A PUBLIC MEETING... John Ferres, Government Printer, 05 December 1854. State Library of Victoria Collection (H141396).

06 December

A group of 13 prisoners are charged with treason.

A meeting of around 6000 Melbourne residents meet at St Paul’s Cathedral to condemn the actions taken by the Government and the administrators in Ballarat.

Colonel Secretary Henry Foster resigns. [31]

07 December

Royal Commission of Inquiry into Goldfields appointed. [32]

08 December

Ballarat Police Courts commit 13 diggers for trial on charges of high treason.[33]

09 December

Martial Law was repealed at Ballarat.[34]

11 December

Colonial Secretary Foster resigned.

14 December

The first Ballarat sitting of the Gold Fields Commission sat at Bath's Hotel, Ballarat.


1855

January - March

Agitation for amnesty of Eureka prisoners.[35]

02 January

Governor Charles Hotham orders Gold License hunts to resume.

10 January

Members of the Gold Fields Commission recommend to Governor Charles Hotham that a general amnesty for all those connected with the Eureka Stockade be declared. The request is refused.

23 January

Henry Seekamp, the editor of the Ballarat Times, was tried and found guilty of sedition. On 26 January he was sentence to six months in prison.

February-March

Thirteen stockaders, with the exception of Thomas Dignum, were tried for treason and found not guilty. [36]

22 February

The trials of the thirteen diggers charged with treason commenced. John Joseph was the first to be tried.

28 February

John Manning was the second digger charged with treason to be tried.

19 March

Timothy Hayes, charged with treason, was tried.

21 March

Raffaello Carboni, charged with treason, was tried.

22 March

Jan Vennik, charged with treason, was tried.

23 March

Henry Reid, James Campbell, William Molloy, Jacob Sorenson and John Phelan, all charged with treason, were tried.

27 March

Gold Fields Commissioner reports in favour of gold fields reform. The Gold License was abolished, Local Courts to be elected by miners and 'miners right' of 1 pound a year which conferred electoral rights. [37] The Miners Right gave miners the right to mine gold and entitled its bearer to a vote in parliamentary elections.[38]

12 April

A public meeting was held at the stump on Bakery Hill to organise a welcome back for the 13 diggers who were acquitted after being tried for treason.

22 May

New Electoral Act framed to give representation to mining areas in existing Legislative Council.[39]

12 June

The third Goldfields' Act was proclaimed, and incorporated the changes suggested by the Royal Commission.

14 July

Raffaello Carboni was one of nine diggers elected to the local court at Ballarat. [40]

10 November

The Hon [i.e. Honorable] John Basson Humffray, First Commissioner of Mines - of Victoria, pastel on brown paper by Thomas Flintoff, 10 August 1859. State Library of Victoria (H325)

Peter Lalor and J.B. Humffray were elected to the Legislative Council.[41]

23 November

Governor Charles Hotham proclaims assent of Queen to Constitution Act. [42]

31 December

Governor Charles Hotham dies at Melbourne.


1856

May 1856

Costs relating to the Eureka Stockade were released.

We have Melbourne papers to the 17th. inst, A Council paper, just published, states that an outlay of £26, 733 18s. 6d. was incurred by the Ballarat riots, —the items being as follows : Expenditure for military, £19,871 0s. l0d.; police, £230 18s. ; conjointly for both services, £5119 13s. 8d.; contingencies, £1512 6s.[43]

1884

16 April

The Eureka Stockade Memorial Committee met for the first time. They decided to invite designs for a memorial. [44]

Eureka Veterans at the 50th Anniversary of the Eureka Stockade, o4 December 1904. Ballarat Heritage Services Picture Collection.

1904

50th Anniversary of the Eureka Stockade.
  1. http://www.myplace.edu.au/decades_timeline/1850/decade_landing_15_1.html?tabRank=2&subTabRank=2, accessed 19 October 2016.
  2. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 190
  3. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 190
  4. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  5. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 190
  6. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 191
  7. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  8. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 191
  9. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  10. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 192
  11. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  12. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 192.
  13. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 193.
  14. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  15. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 193.
  16. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  17. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 193.
  18. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 194.
  19. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  20. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  21. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 194.
  22. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  23. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  24. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 195.
  25. Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
  26. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 195.
  27. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 196.
  28. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  29. From Tent To Parliament, Berry Anderson & Co., Ballarat, p12.
  30. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 197.
  31. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  32. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  33. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  34. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  35. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  36. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 199.
  37. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  38. http://www.myplace.edu.au/decades_timeline/1850/decade_landing_15_1.html?tabRank=2&subTabRank=2, accessed 19 October 2016.
  39. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  40. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 200.
  41. McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 200.
  42. Rich, Margaret (Ed), Eureka, Ballarat Fine Art Gallery.
  43. Tasmanian Daily News, 22 May 1856.
  44. Chisholm, J.A., A few notes o the site of the Eureka Memorial, 1974.