Eureka Timeline

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Eureka Timeline


1853

24 September

A new act reduced the licence to 40 shillings for three months.[1]

1854

28 March

The Crimean War starts when Great Britain and France declare war on Russia. [2]

16 May

Chief Commissioner Wright recommends Robert Rede to fill the position of resident Commissioner at Ballarat. [3]

22 June

Captain Sir Charles Hotham arrives in Melbourne to take up the position of Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria. [4]

26 August

Governor Charles Hotham and Lady Hotham visit Ballarat. [5]

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. [6]

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.

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. [7]

19 October

Police reinforcements arrived in Ballarat.

21 October

Andrew McIntyre and Thomas Fletcher were arrested for their alleged part in the destruction of the Eureka Hotel. [8]

A meeting was held on Bakery Hill where those in attendance agreed tp pay the bail Andrew McIntyre and Thomas Fletcher.[9]

27 October

Garrison Commander Captain John Thomas developed a detailed plan for the defence of the Government Camp at Ballarat.[10]

11 November

The Ballarat Reform League officially came into existence on this day, although it had been active for several weeks. [11] Around 10,000 diggers met on Bakery were a public meeting was conducted.

16 November

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

18 November

James Bentley, Thomas Farrell and William Hance were convicted of the manslaughter of James Scobie. Cathering Bentley was found not guilty. [12]

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. [13]

28 November

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.[14]

29 November

Over 10,000 people attended a 'Monster meeting' on Bakery Hill. [15]

30 November

In the late afternoon on [Bakery Hill] diggers swore an oath by the Southern Cross to defend their rights. [16]

02 December

The building of the Eureka Stockade was completed. 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. [17]

04 December

Governor Charles Hotham proclaims martial Law in Ballarat. [18]

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 teh Government and called for the resignation of Foster.

09 December

Martial Law was repealed at Ballarat.

14 December

The Gold Fields Commission sat for the first time. [19]

14 December

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

1855

02 January

Governor Charles Hotham orders Gold License hunts to resume.

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. [20]

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.

14 July

Raffaello Carboni was one of nine diggers elected to the local court at Ballarat. [21]

10 November

Peter Lalor and J.B. Humffray were elected to the Legislative Council.[22]
  1. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 190
  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. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 191
  5. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 191
  6. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 192
  7. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 192.
  8. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 193.
  9. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 193.
  10. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 193.
  11. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 194.
  12. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 194.
  13. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 195.
  14. ↑ Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
  15. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1995, p 195.
  16. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 196.
  17. ↑ From Tent To Parliament, Berry Anderson & Co., Ballarat, p12.
  18. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 197.
  19. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 198.
  20. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 199.
  21. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 200.
  22. ↑ McFarlane, Ian, Eureka from the Official Records, Public Record Office of Victoria, 1996, p 200.
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