John Balderston
To: info@ballaratheritage.com.au Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2003 9:44 PM Subject: Eureka history
I am a foundation member of an organisation called Eurekas Children, my gr.gr.grandfather, John ; built the bakery on Bakery Hill at Ballarat and was one of the men arrested after the riot that ensued at Bentleys Hotel. Those men were McIntyre,Fletcher Westerby which are the only names mentioned at the Eureka centre in Ballarat and the only names mentioned in the presentation at Sovereign Hill, Blood on the Southern Cross. Seven others were arrested as well and their charges were dismissed. They were,Flatow,Butler,Hurd Balderstone,McIntosh,Stewart and Vanderbyle. McIntyre and Fletcher were both sent for trial at Geelong on 26th.November while Westerby and Hurd sent for trial at Melbourne on 15th November after being released on bail. Why is there no recognition for the other people arrested but released? According to that Historic book, "Irish at Eureka" by Currey pgs 37 and 38, "Messrs Balderstone, Stuart (Stewart?) Macintosh and Van der Byl were accordingly arrested and brought before E.P.Sturt, a very competent and fair minded magistrate." Can't we, in this 150th year of Eureka, set the record right once and for all and show that others were also arrested there? In 2001, after my first visit to the Eureka Centre, I wrote to the Education Officer and stated the above information and was told that the historic record could not be changed. These documents on the PROVIC website ARE the historic record and the record of TODAY should be put right. Yours faithfully, Bruce C.Gow
Contents
Background
Balderston was descended from four generations of bakers. In 1851, arriving in Australia he proceeded to the Ballarat Diggings. After the burning of James Bentley’s Eureka Hotel Balderston was arrested on 27 October 1854, but later the charge was dismissed. Balderston signed a petition supporting the Benden Sherritt Hassell Compensation Claim which was delivered by J.B. Humffray on 21 February 1856. Hassell was shot in the thigh during the arrival of the 12th Regiment at Ballarat on 28 November 1854. Hassell was unable to follow his usual business for over 4 months, and medical advice stated he would never recover perfect use and strength in the limb. Balderston was a baker at Ballarat in February 1856. He remained in Ballarat until 1895, when he moved to Gippsland.
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
Post 1854 Experiences
See also
Further Reading
Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
References
External links