St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne

In 1855 St Paul's Cathedral forecourt was the site of the great public meeting, said to be the biggest in the Colony. On 05 December 1855 the meeting was convened by the supporters of the Government, following concern after the news of the Eureka Stockade reached Melbourne.

A second meeting was held on 07 December, and was sad to the the largest meeting ever held in the Colony, and was convened by those who had sympathy with those under martial law in Ballarat. The meeting concludied with three cheers for the diggers, three cheers for Dr Owens (a speaker and editor), three cheers for Sir Charles Hotham, and three groans for the troopers.

St Paul’s Cathedral is located on the corner of Flinders and Swanton Streets, Melbourne.

In December 1854 there was shock and outrage among the general community in Melbourne on learning of the government’s actions and the lives lost at Eureka. The reaction in Melbourne turned the diggers’ defeat into a victory.

An official meeting on the 5th December in support of Lieutenant Governor Charles Hotham was taken over and resolutions were passed condemning the Government and calling for the immediate dismissal of Colonial Secretary Foster. On the same day the Legislative Council met and passed a motion, unanimously, approving the conduct of the troops.

On the 6th December a meeting of 6,000 gathered at St Paul’s Church and protested the actions of the government and the Ballarat authorities. The attack by the troops was described as illegal and murderous. One speaker described the day (6th December) as a ‘proud day for Victoria …the beginning of the history of the colony’. This meeting marked the emergence, at last, of the popular democratic movement. Hotham had placed 300 police, 100 gaol warders, 100 volunteers and all available marines in neighbouring streets and government buildings in case of riots.

Meanwhile the diggers were seething with resentment.

At the treason trials trial for treason on 23 February, the jury of Melbourne citizens, acquitted all the diggers and they became popular heroes. Before long the licence fee was abolished and diggers were given the vote.