On Sunday, December 3, 1854 at dawn on Bakery Hill 200 diggers were left inside the Eureka Stockade.

The Eureka battle happened because the miners didn’t want to pay a licence fee. They also thought the police were unfair and corrupt so they were just fed up and very angry.

The Eureka Stockade was only a wooden barricade enclosing an acre of the goldfields. The battle was very quick, it was over in 15-20 minutes. Five soldiers were killed and 30 diggers were also killed. John King who was a police man climbed up the flag pole and tore down the flag.

The immediate result of the battle was the public reaction against the Government. Licence hunting also became almost non-existent.

The long term result was the gold licence was abolished and replaced by a miners’ right costing one pound per year and the miners all had the right to vote.

I do think this event was the birthplace of Australian democracy because the miners stood up for themselves and were able to change the law.