Castlemaine

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Agitation Hill, Castlemaine

Centred in Lyttleton Street, the monster meeting on Agitation Hill took place after a police raid on 09 May 1853 where men, women and children were evicted. The same day a placade was posted stating:

MEN OF CASTLEMAINE! MEET ON THE HILL BEHIND THE BAPTIST CHAPEL!
DIGGERS! – Avenge your wrongs and demand your rights, or otherwise you will live and die all slaves.

By 4pm that day around one thousand people assembled on Agitation Hill, a location in view of the government camp.[1]

The Reverend Mr Jackson had seen the police raid calling it ‘the disgraceful proceedings . . . on Saturday last.’, and acted as the meeting chair. Addressing the meeting he said:

I appear before you under circumstances perhaps very different from those under which I entered the colony; for on Saturday night I had the threat held out to me of being locked up. . . . I would put it to the meeting, if I was a minister of the gospel, and had been thus assailed and insulted because I presumed to sympathise with an unfortunate sufferer, what might the people not expect this year twelve months?[2]

Local auctioneer William Hitchcock proposed the following motion:

... the whole of the district is so tyrannised over and disturbed, that this meeting declares its solemn belief that we are on the eve of a general revolution.[3]

The next speaker, Mr Gill, expressed:

That a handful of men, to whom, in their official capacity, the civilians of the population are emboldened to look for protection, should pull down a house about a man’s ears on the information of a perjured scoundrel, instigated by an unscrupulous authority, unworthy the name of Christian – [Laughter and cheers] – for selling fermented liquors where no liquors were retailed, and the witness swore falsely, – was this conduct that which Englishmen ever submitted to? [‘No’.] Then why should they submit to such tyrannised treatment here? [‘Never, never,’ and ‘Down with the camp.’] It is time that these affairs should be brought to a crisis. It is time that the people should form an unanimous organisation, and proclaim their intention to demand a reformed Government, and a different system . . . than has hitherto oppressed the Australian Colonies. [Cheering.][4]

Castlemaine's well respected medico, Dr W.F. Preshaw, announced:

I support the foregoing resolution with all my heart and soul and strength, and wealth and influence. [Great cheerings.] I support the foregoing resolution with inexplicable pleasure, and I do so as an out-and-out Tory and conservative; but as an out-and-out radical if necessary... . [Loud cheering.][5]

The followed Mr McEwan of the Bank of New South Wales:

Measures ought to be taken, and that immediately, for the suppression of such great and intolerable grievances as the people now complain of. [Hear, hear.] It becomes all to respond to this public requirement, and to be unanimous in demanding an alleviation of these great grievances. It is an unexampled and intolerable tyranny on the part of the Government to treat the people as they do. ... [Loud cheering.][6]

Mr Jones, Campbell's Creek auctioneer followed: I am well known by you all as being one of the oldest hands on the grounds. ... The tyranny of the Government has been such that, unless people take steps to intercept a despotic invasion of their constitutional rights, the relentless and unscrupulous authorities would take further liberties. [Loud cheering.] The local population consists of an extraordinary amalgamation from every country in Europe and throughout the colonies; it now becomes an obligation with the residents on the diggings to be unanimous and not trampled on. [Hear, hear.][7]

Firebrand Dr Southee was the last speaker:

If the Government dares to oppress the public much longer, a warrantable retribution will speedily follow. And what would be the character of that retribution? Why a revolution would ensue, sanguinary and exterminating. I have at every period of my existence been forward to support authority, when legitimately exercised, but I am also antagonistic to any infringement of the people’s rights. ... The people are determined to have satisfaction, and if the Government persists in their oppression, the public of Castlemaine are unanimously determined to oppose the authorities, crumble them to the dust as useless worms, and chivalrously demand their individual liberties. [Tremendous cheering.][8]

A vote followed and agreement was made to appoint three People’s Commissioners to present the meeting’s grievances to the Governor in person. The situation at Castlemaine was defused, in large part through the deft handling of the Chief Gold Commissioner. Inspector Christian was moved on. But antagonisms between the goldfields population and the ‘Campites’ continued to fester over the months ahead, in Castlemaine and throughout the golfields including Beechworth, and Bendigo, and at Ballarat and the Eureka diggings.[9]

Names associated with Living in Castlemaine

Henry Glenny

Harry Hambrook

William Hitchcock

Hutchings

Fr Patrick Smyth

Andrew Turnbull

John Westoby

Also See

Abodes