Difference between revisions of "Chewton"
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On 15 December 1851 a meeting of around 14,000 diggers was held at Forest Creek (Chewton). Delegates were sent to Melbourne to petition Governor [[Charles La Trobe]]. In response 130 troops were sent to Forest Creek (Chewton). | On 15 December 1851 a meeting of around 14,000 diggers was held at Forest Creek (Chewton). Delegates were sent to Melbourne to petition Governor [[Charles La Trobe]]. In response 130 troops were sent to Forest Creek (Chewton). | ||
| − | A few months earlier the news of gold at [[Forest Creek]] had emptied [[Melbourne]] as men and women joined the gold rush. By December 25,000 were camped at what we now call Chewton in the quest to strike it rich on the rich alluvial gold field. The government couldn’t stop the rush, so they pronounced it ‘Royal Gold” and taxed the miners thirty shillings per month. But the rush didn’t stop. The government was desperate to force the miners back to the work and homes they had left, so announced a doubling of the tax to sixty shillings. That was too much for the angry diggers. On 15 December 1851 15,000 diggers gathered peacefully under their new flag to protest and demand justice. The government decided that the tax would not be increased after all but the miners’ demands for justice and parliamentary representation continued across the Victorian diggings. | + | A few months earlier the news of gold at [[Forest Creek]] had emptied [[Melbourne]] as men and women joined the gold rush. By December 25,000 were camped at what we now call Chewton in the quest to strike it rich on the rich alluvial gold field. The government couldn’t stop the rush, so they pronounced it ‘Royal Gold” and taxed the miners thirty shillings per month. But the rush didn’t stop. The government was desperate to force the miners back to the work and homes they had left, so announced a doubling of the tax to sixty shillings. That was too much for the angry diggers. |
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| + | On 15 December 1851 15,000 diggers gathered peacefully under their new flag to protest and demand justice. The government decided that the tax would not be increased after all but the miners’ demands for justice and parliamentary representation continued across the Victorian diggings. Speakers spoke passionately of the issues involved: of the right of individuals to create wealth by their own labour, and of the need to unite against an oppressive government. | ||
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| + | ‘To be respected by fellow-man, is a right-minded man’s pride’ - Mr Booley.<ref>http://www.fomad.org.au/monster-meeting-site.html, accessed 08 December 2013.</ref> | ||
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| + | ‘I defy the world to produce the same honest among the sane number as at Forest Creek’ - Mr Potts.<ref>http://www.fomad.org.au/monster-meeting-site.html, accessed 08 December 2013.</ref> | ||
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| + | ‘…when the Commissioner came around, I should refuse to pay,and he would compel me to go with him. Now, I should propose that if one went, all went.’ - Mr Booley ‘Yes, Yes.’ - The crowd.<ref>http://www.fomad.org.au/monster-meeting-site.html, accessed 08 December 2013.</ref> | ||
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| + | ‘It was unjust taxation that caused the United States to throw off the burthen, and unless the Government learnt a little wisdom, an additional tax might lead to same result here.’ - Captain Harrison.<ref>http://www.fomad.org.au/monster-meeting-site.html, accessed 08 December 2013.</ref> | ||
The meeting at Chewton was a momentous occasion that began a chain of events that lead, through [[Bendigo]]'s [[Red Ribbon Rebellion]] to the [[Eureka Stockade]] at Ballarat in 1854 – a chain of events that changed Australia. | The meeting at Chewton was a momentous occasion that began a chain of events that lead, through [[Bendigo]]'s [[Red Ribbon Rebellion]] to the [[Eureka Stockade]] at Ballarat in 1854 – a chain of events that changed Australia. | ||
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A re-enactment of the meeting is held every year at the original site to remember and celebrate the 15 December 1851 Monster Meeting of 15,000 miners protesting Governor [[Charles La Trobe]]’s threat to double the miners licence fee from thirty to sixty shillings per month, regardless of whether or not they found gold. | A re-enactment of the meeting is held every year at the original site to remember and celebrate the 15 December 1851 Monster Meeting of 15,000 miners protesting Governor [[Charles La Trobe]]’s threat to double the miners licence fee from thirty to sixty shillings per month, regardless of whether or not they found gold. | ||
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== Also See == | == Also See == | ||
Revision as of 16:46, 8 December 2013
Background
On 15 December 1851 a meeting of around 14,000 diggers was held at Forest Creek (Chewton). Delegates were sent to Melbourne to petition Governor Charles La Trobe. In response 130 troops were sent to Forest Creek (Chewton).
A few months earlier the news of gold at Forest Creek had emptied Melbourne as men and women joined the gold rush. By December 25,000 were camped at what we now call Chewton in the quest to strike it rich on the rich alluvial gold field. The government couldn’t stop the rush, so they pronounced it ‘Royal Gold” and taxed the miners thirty shillings per month. But the rush didn’t stop. The government was desperate to force the miners back to the work and homes they had left, so announced a doubling of the tax to sixty shillings. That was too much for the angry diggers.
On 15 December 1851 15,000 diggers gathered peacefully under their new flag to protest and demand justice. The government decided that the tax would not be increased after all but the miners’ demands for justice and parliamentary representation continued across the Victorian diggings. Speakers spoke passionately of the issues involved: of the right of individuals to create wealth by their own labour, and of the need to unite against an oppressive government.
‘To be respected by fellow-man, is a right-minded man’s pride’ - Mr Booley.[1]
‘I defy the world to produce the same honest among the sane number as at Forest Creek’ - Mr Potts.[2]
‘…when the Commissioner came around, I should refuse to pay,and he would compel me to go with him. Now, I should propose that if one went, all went.’ - Mr Booley ‘Yes, Yes.’ - The crowd.[3]
‘It was unjust taxation that caused the United States to throw off the burthen, and unless the Government learnt a little wisdom, an additional tax might lead to same result here.’ - Captain Harrison.[4]
The meeting at Chewton was a momentous occasion that began a chain of events that lead, through Bendigo's Red Ribbon Rebellion to the Eureka Stockade at Ballarat in 1854 – a chain of events that changed Australia.
A re-enactment of the meeting is held every year at the original site to remember and celebrate the 15 December 1851 Monster Meeting of 15,000 miners protesting Governor Charles La Trobe’s threat to double the miners licence fee from thirty to sixty shillings per month, regardless of whether or not they found gold.
Also See
Ballarat Reform League Inc. Monuments Project
Ballarat Reform League Inc. Chewton Monument
George Duke- ↑ http://www.fomad.org.au/monster-meeting-site.html, accessed 08 December 2013.
- ↑ http://www.fomad.org.au/monster-meeting-site.html, accessed 08 December 2013.
- ↑ http://www.fomad.org.au/monster-meeting-site.html, accessed 08 December 2013.
- ↑ http://www.fomad.org.au/monster-meeting-site.html, accessed 08 December 2013.
