An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion , which will decide whether or not to retain it. |
This article is part of a series on the |
Eureka Rebellion |
---|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
This is an incomplete list of the around 120 prisoners, some of whom were non-combatants, that were detained by the colonial forces around the time of the Battle of the Eureka Stockade on 3 December 1854 at Ballarat in Victoria, Australia. A group of thirteen accused rebels were then committed to stand trial for high treason, with all either being acquitted or had the indictment withdrawn. Nothing is known about the status of most of the detainees regarding their actual participation in the armed uprising.
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2024) |
Name | Birth year | Birthplace | Legacy and notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
William Adams | unknown | unknown | Adams lived in the vicinity of the Eureka Stockade and was wounded by gunfire three times whilst trying to get his family to safety. He was taken prisoner and spent a week convalescing at the government camp hospital. Adams would later unsuccessfully claim 937 pounds in damages for loss of property and false imprisonment. | [1] |
Michael Noonan | 1839 | unknown | Noonan lost his store and received 70 pounds in compensation. His spouse was also assaulted at the time of the battle, and he was detained for five days after being arrested while standing near the St Alphius chapel. | [2] |
The detainees were mainly apprehended at or in the vicinity of the Eureka Stockade on the day of the battle. They marched to the Ballarat police holding cells until indictments could be issued or dropped. Most of the detainees faced a committal hearing presided over by a bench of magistrates. Depositions of crown witnesses for the brief of evidence in the 1855 Victorian high treason trials were taken between 7–9 December 1854 in Ballarat, mostly from soldiers and police officers who took part in the battle and other witnesses. Each deponent made a signed and sworn written statement concerning their knowledge of the facts concerning the indictment. The testimony was given in open court in the presence of the accused person, who was able to respond via submitting a statement of the accused, although this right was often waived by the detainees. Where the death of a person was involved, the proceedings became an inquest. The deponents were bound by recognisances to give evidence or a signed undertaking to appear at the trial for examination in chief at various venues if required. [3]
It was reported during the high treason committal hearings that the following detainees had been discharged for either "no evidence against the prisoners, or they were only proved guilty of living in the neighborhood of the Eureka Stockade, and giving no information as to its erection". [4] A group of thirteen rebel prisoners were eventually committed to stand for trial for high treason at the Supreme Court in Melbourne.
8 December 1854 hearing [5]
Name | Birth year | Birthplace | Court order | Legacy and notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charles Adams | 1829? | unknown | discharged | Adams was a storekeeper in Ballarat who was taken prisoner and discharged at the committal hearings. May have been the same Charles Adams who was a miner at the Black lead and died in December 1861 aged 32. | [6] |
Nicholas Allaire | unknown | unknown | discharged | Allaire was in Ballarat at the time of the battle and was discharged at the committal hearings. | [7] |
Thomas Barry | unknown | unknown | discharged | Barry was in Ballarat at the time of the battle and was discharged at the committal hearings. | [8] |
Henry Bazley | unknown | unknown | discharged | Bazley was in Ballarat at the time of the battle and was discharged at the committal hearings. | [9] |
Thomas Bisk | unknown | unknown | discharged | Bisk was in Ballarat at the time of the battle and was discharged at the committal hearings. | [10] |
Thomas Box | unknown | unknown | discharged | Box was arrested in Ballarat on 3 December 1854 and discharged at the committal hearings. | [11] |
Charles Brown | unknown | unknown | discharged | Brown was in Ballarat at the time of the battle and was discharged at the committal hearings. | [12] |
Edmund Burns | unknown | unknown | discharged | Burns (or Burn) was arrested inside the Eureka Stockade on 3 December 1854. He later made a compensation claim for his tent, which was set on fire during the battle. Burns was discharged at the committal hearings. | [13] |
John Cahill | 1833 | County Clare, Ireland | discharged | Cahill was arrested at the Eureka Stockade on the day of the battle. He was active on a committee to redress the grievances of the mining community in Ballarat. Cahill was discharged at the committal hearings. | [14] |
George Davidson | unknown | unknown | discharged | Davidson was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [15] |
John Delamere | unknown | unknown | discharged | Delamere was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [16] |
Nicholas Edwards | unknown | unknown | discharged | Edwards was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [17] |
Patrick Gilhooly | unknown | unknown | discharged | Gilhooly was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [18] |
Joseph Gray | unknown | unknown | discharged | Gray was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [19] |
Joseph Hindon | unknown | unknown | discharged | Hindon was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [20] |
Isaac Hinds | 1797 | Cumberland, England | discharged | Hinds was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. He was a character witness in Bentley's trial in November 1854. | [21] |
Richard Humphreys | unknown | unknown | discharged | Humphreys was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [22] |
Francis Kent | unknown | unknown | discharged | Kent was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [23] |
Martin Kinnear | unknown | unknown | discharged | Kinnear was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [24] |
Robert Leslie | unknown | unknown | discharged | Leslie was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [25] |
Joseph Macknon | unknown | unknown | discharged | Macknon was in Ballarat at the time of the battle and was arrested and discharged at the committal hearings. | [26] |
Dugald Magennis | unknown | unknown | discharged | Magennis was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [27] |
J Kennedy O'Brien | unknown | unknown | discharged | O'Brien was arrested on the day of the battle whilst in the vicinity of the Saint Alphius Catholic church. He was discharged at the committal hearings. All of O'Brien's possessions went missing whilst he was in police custody. He made a compensation claim for his time in custody. O'Brien's name appears on the 1855 electoral roll, and he was a signatory to the Benden S Hassell compensation petition. | [28] |
Matthew Orr | unknown | unknown | discharged | Orr was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [29] |
Joseph Penrose | unknown | unknown | discharged | Penrose was arrested on the day of the battle whilst in the vicinity of the Saint Alphuis Catholic church. He was discharged at the committal hearings. | [30] |
John Powell | unknown | unknown | discharged | Powell was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [31] |
Peter Priaulx | unknown | unknown | discharged | Priaulx was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. There are records of a farmer named Peter Priaulx arriving in Melbourne aboard the Saldanha. | [32] |
John Quin | unknown | unknown | discharged | Quin was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. He was a character witness in Michael Noonan's compensation claim. | [33] |
Henry Robilliard | 1800 | Guernsey | discharged | Robilliard was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [34] |
Alexander Ross | unknown | unknown | discharged | Ross was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [35] |
Martin Ryan | unknown | unknown | discharged | Ryan was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. He subsequently made an unsuccessful compensation claim of 8 pounds for the destruction of his tent and property by the colonial forces. Ryan had asserted that he took no part in the armed uprising directly or indirectly. | [36] |
Walter Ryley | unknown | unknown | discharged | Ryley was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [37] |
Arthur Smith | unknown | unknown | discharged | Smith was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [38] |
William James Steer | unknown | unknown | discharged | Steer was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [39] |
Thomas Ferdinand Tighe | unknown | unknown | discharged | Tighe was arrested at the time of the battle and was discharged at the committal hearings. | [40] |
George Thompson | unknown | unknown | discharged | Thompson was present at the battle. He was arrested and discharged at the committal hearings. | [41] |
Henry Trynon | unknown | unknown | discharged | Trynon was arrested at the time of the battle and was discharged at the committal hearings. | [42] |
Andrew White | unknown | unknown | discharged | White was arrested at the time of the battle and was discharged at the committal hearings. | [43] |
Robert Winkfield | 1814 | London, England | discharged | Winkfield was arrested at the time of the battle and was discharged at the committal hearings. | [44] |
11 December 1854 hearing [45]
Name | Birth year | Birthplace | Court order | Legacy and notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carl Anderson (a Swede) | unknown | Sweden | discharged | Anderson was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [46] |
James Ashburner | 1827 | Liverpool, England | discharged | Ashburner was a pikeman at the Eureka Stockade who was captured during the fall of the Stockade. He was reported for wielding a pike made from a pick. Ashburner witnessed Peter Lalor being shot, and fearing for the rebel leader's life, he dragged Lalor outside the stockade, where he took refuge in a hole. He was detained soon after and chained to Timothy Hayes overnight. Ashburner was in Ballarat for the 50th anniversary commemorations. His account was published in the Ballarat Courier, 3 December 1904 edition. | [47] |
William Avondale | unknown | unknown | discharged | Avondale was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. | [48] |
James Barclay | unknown | unknown | discharged | Barclay was arrested on the day of the battle and discharged at the committal hearings. He may be the same James Barclay who died at age 36 in 1862. | [49] |
Edmund Bohen | unknown | unknown | discharged | Bohen was in Ballarat at the time of the battle. He was arrested and discharged at the committal hearings. | [50] |
Michael Butler | unknown | unknown | dischared | Butler was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. He may have been the same Michael Butler who arrived in Melbourne in 1841 with his parents at age four. | [51] |
William Develin | unknown | unknown | discharged | Develin was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [52] |
Charles Doolan | unknown | unknown | discharged | Doolan was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [53] |
William Galloway | unknown | unknown | discharged | Galloway was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. His tent was next to Thomas Cox's. Galloway had blood on his hands at the time he was arrested. On 11 December 1854, he appeared at the inquest into the death of Henry Powell. | [54] |
Michael Gleeson | 1823 | Gowran, Kilkenny, Ireland | discharged | Gleeson was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [55] |
Patrick Hickey | unknown | unknown | discharged | Hickey was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [56] |
Jeremiah Hogan | 1826 | unknown | discharged | Hogan was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [57] |
John Kelly | unknown | unknown | discharged | Kelly was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. The US consul, James Tarleton, made representations to secure his release from custody. Kelly was a partner along with Frank Carey in the Excelsior restaurant and boarding house and had previously served a six-month sentence for selling alcohol without a licence. | [58] |
Michael Kennedy | unknown | unknown | discharged | Kennedy was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. He was a signatory to the Benden S Hassell compensation petition in 1855. | [59] |
Patrick Kennedy | unknown | unknown | discharged | Kennedy was a miner who was visiting a friend on 2 December 1854. He was held as a prisoner at the Eureka Stockade, perhaps under suspicion he was a spy, and managed to escape. His friend lived near the stockade, and Kennedy was again detained. Kennedy was discharged at the committal hearings and discovered that his belongings had been stolen from him during his time in custody | [59] |
John Leadow | unknown | unknown | discharged | Leadow was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [60] |
John Lynch | 1826 | Ennis, County Clare, Ireland | survivor | One of Peter Lalor's captains, he helped to conceal the rebel leader in a hole with slabs. He was arrested later that day and released. He returned to Ballarat to deliver an oration for the second anniversary of the battle. His memoirs were published in the Austral Light from October 1893 to March 1894. Buried in the Smythesdale Cemetery. | [61] [62] |
Daniel Macartney | unknown | unknown | discharged | Macartney was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [63] |
Patrick Meade | unknown | unknown | discharged | Meade was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [64] |
Michael Meagher | unknown | unknown | discharged | Meagher was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [65] |
John Pardy | unknown | unknown | discharged | Pardy was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [66] |
Samuel Penny | unknown | unknown | discharged | Penny was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [30] |
Cornelius (or Charles) Peters | 1827/1828 | Heemsted, Netherlands | discharged | Peters was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. He testified in the high treason trial of Jan Vennick. | [67] |
James Sexton | unknown | unknown | discharged | Sexton was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [68] |
William Somerville | unknown | unknown | discharged | Somerville was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [69] |
William Stafford | unknown | unknown | discharged | Stafford was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [70] |
Herman Steinman | unknown | unknown | discharged | Steinman was arrested on 3 December 1854 and discharged during the committal hearings. | [39] |
Joseph Walker | unknown | unknown | discharged | Walker was arrested at the time of the battle and was discharged during the committal hearings. | [71] |
William Wickley | unknown | unknown | discharged | Wickley was arrested at the time of the battle and was discharged during the committal hearings. | [72] |
The high treason trials took place between 22 February – 27 March 1855 in the aftermath of the fall of Eureka Stockade. The Goldfields Commission recommended a general amnesty for all on the runs from the fallen Eureka Stockade. Instead, thirteen of the rebels detained were eventually indicted for high treason. The juries all returned a verdict of not guilty by a jury, and the indictment against Thomas Dignum was withdrawn. On 23 January, the trial of Ballarat Times editor Henry Seekamp resulted in a finding of guilt for seditious libel, and a month later, he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of six months. The trials have been described as farcical, and the colonial secretary would rebuke Lieutenant Governor Sir Charles Hotham over prosecuting the Eureka rebels for the lofty offence of high treason. [73]
The defendants were originally to be tried in the same order as they were listed in the indictments. However, due to the pre-trial legal chicanery and the unavailability of witnesses, John Joseph, an African American, was the first accused man to go on trial. The jury deliberated for about half an hour before returning a verdict of "not guilty." The Argus reported that "A sudden burst of applause arose in the court," but it was instantly checked by court officers. The Chief Justice condemned this as an attempt to influence the jury, as it could be construed that a jury could be encouraged to deliver a verdict that would receive such applause; he sentenced two men (identified by the Crown Solicitor as having applauded) to a week in prison for contempt. [74] Over 10,000 people had come to hear the jury's verdict. According to Richard Allan's account published in the Ballarat Star , upon emerging from the courthouse, Joseph "was put in a chair and carried around the streets of the City in triumph with the greatest demonstrations of joy". [75]
Name | Birth year | Birthplace | Verdict | Legacy and notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
James Beattie | 1823 | Cumberland, England | not guilty | Beattie was one of the indicted rebels tried and acquitted in the 1855 Victorian High Treason trials. Witnesses stated that he volunteered to join a rebel company at the 29th December 1854 meeting at Bakery Hill. He then drilled and marched with the other rebels to the Eureka lead and was drilled again that and the following day. Beattie negotiated the perimeter of the stockade just before the shooting had ceased. Beattie had a large horse pistol that he dropped within the stockade when he saw troops outside. He either fell or drooped to his knees and cried for mercy, saying he "was beaten and would give in". | [76] [77] [78] |
James Macfie Campbell | unknown | Kingston, Jamaica | not guilty | Campbell was one of the indicted rebels tried and acquitted of high treason. | [79] |
Raffaello Carboni | 1817 | Urbino, Italy | not guilty | Carboni acted as Lalor's interpreter in dealing with some of the European miners. He was an eyewitness to the battle, seeking shelter in the chimney of his dwelling that was nearby the stockade. Subsequently indicted and acquitted in the high treason trials. Eureka folklore is deeply indebted to Carboni, who published the only full-length eyewitness account of the Eureka Rebellion later in 1855. | [80] |
Thomas Dignum | 1836 | Sydney, NSW | nolle prosequi | Dignum is among the four known native-born Australians at the Eureka Stockade and was one of the pikemen. Signed the Benden Hassell compensation petition. Carboni described him as a "serious looking, short, tight-built young chap" who "fought like a tiger" in the battle. He was one of the thirteen indicted rebels and succeeded in having the charge case dropped. | [81] [82] |
John Joseph | 1831 | New York, USA | not guilty | Joseph was one of the rebels indicted and acquitted of high treason. He was praised for his performance under fire. Carboni said that Joseph was honest and kind and fired as part of the volley that killed Captain Wise. As an African American, doctor Charles Kenworthy did not act as Joseph's intermediary in an effort to secure his release as he did in relation to other Americans in legal jeopardy as a result of their involvement in the Eureka Rebellion. Joseph was tried first and acquitted. It is said that he was carried aloft in a chair by a joyous crowd around the streets of Melbourne. | [83] |
Timothy Hayes | 1820 | Kilkenny, Ireland | not guilty | Hayes was arrested on 3 December 1854 and was one of the rebels indicted and acquitted of high treason. | [84] |
John Manning | unknown | Ireland? | not guilty | Manning was a journalist who Carboni mentions as being present at the meeting where Peter Lalor was confirmed as rebel leader. Inspector Carter discovered him in the stockade's armoury when he stormed the tent. Carter arrested Manning himself and placed him into the custody of Lieutenant Richards of the 40th Regiment. Subsequently indicted and acquitted in the high treason trials. | [85] |
William Molly | unknown | unknown | not guilty | Molly was at the Eureka Stockade and detained and released. On 9 December 1854, along with Edward Sorrenson and Patrick Howard, he was indicted for high treason. Witness Edward Verit testified that near the conclusion of the attack, Molly was "being driven out" of the stockade and that "I collared him and took him. He had no arms that I saw". | [86] |
John Phelan | 1882 | The Cottage, Derry Kearn Abbey, Leix, Ireland | not guilty | Phelan was one of the rebels indicted and acquitted in the high treason trials. He had served as a juror on the James Scobie inquest. There is a legend that he and a miner named McGrath buried Lalor's amputated arm down an old alluvial shaft near the junction of present-day Princess and Meir Streets. Another is that he accompanied Lalor to a land auction while Lalor was still on the run. However, this seems unlikely, as Phelan was in police custody the whole time until his acquittal. | [87] |
Henry Reed | unknown | unknown | not guilty | Reed (or Read) was one of the rebels indicted and acquitted for high treason. Sub-Inspector Samuel Furnell saw Reed inside the Eureka Stockade on 3 December 1854, and it was alleged that he had fired on trooper Michael Lawler. | [88] [89] |
Jacob Sorrenson | unknown | unknown | not guilty | Sorenson was arrested on 3 December 1854. He was committed to stand trial on 9 December 1854 along with William Molloy and Patrick Howard. Sorenson was described as heavily tattooed and illiterate. | [90] |
Michael Tuohy | 1830 | Scariff, County Clare, Ireland | not guilty | Was part of the contingent that traveled from Creswick contingent to the Eureka Stockade. He was detained by Corporal William Richardson whilst attempting to flee the stockade in possession of a double-barrelled shotgun. Subsequently, spent most of his fortune pursuing a compensation claim over the loss of his mine. | [91] [92] |
Jan Vennick | 1823 | Koedijk, the Netherlands | not guilty | Sometimes referred to as John Fenwick, Vennick was a non-combatant who was indicted and acquitted of high treason. He shared a tent with Cornelius Peters and Le Fronzis Romeo that was situated 300 yards away from the Eureka Stockade. At the time of the battle, German miner Edward Bloehm roused the three of them. The police surrounded the tent and called on the occupants to surrender. Vennick emerged wearing red trousers gaining the nickname "the captain". He was handcuffed and then struck with a sword, nearly severing his ear and sustaining three blows to the head. At the high treason trials, Peters was able to provide Vennick with an alibi, testifying that Vennick was working with him all day on the 2 December 1854 and had been in the tent all night and on the morning when the stockade was overrun. | [93] [94] |
The Eureka Rebellion was a series of events involving gold miners who revolted against the British colonial government in Victoria, Australia during the Victorian gold rush. It culminated in the Battle of the Eureka Stockade, which took place on 3 December 1854 at Ballarat between the rebels and the colonial forces of Australia. The fighting left at least 27 dead and many injured, most of the casualties being rebels. There was a preceding period beginning in 1851 of peaceful demonstrations and civil disobedience on the Victorian goldfields. The miners, many of whom such as Raffaello Carboni came from Europe and were veterans of the Revolutions of 1848, had various grievances, chiefly the cost of mining permits and the officious way the system was enforced.
The Eureka Flag was flown at the Battle of the Eureka Stockade, which took place on 3 December 1854 at Ballarat in Victoria, Australia. It was the culmination of the 1851–1854 Eureka Rebellion on the Victorian goldfields. Gold miners protested the cost of mining permits, the officious way the colonial authorities enforced the system, and other grievances. An estimated crowd of over 10,000 demonstrators swore allegiance to the flag as a symbol of defiance at Bakery Hill on 29 November 1854. It was then flown over the Eureka Stockade during the battle that resulted in at least 27 deaths. Around 120 miners were arrested, and many others were badly wounded, including 5 soldiers.
John Basson Humffray was a leading advocate in the movement of miner reform process in the British colony of Victoria, and later a member of parliament.
The Battle of the Eureka Stockade was fought in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia on 3 December 1854, between gold miners and the colonial forces of Australia. It was the culmination of the 1851–1854 Eureka Rebellion during the Victorian gold rush. The fighting resulted in at least 27 deaths and many injuries, the majority of casualties being rebels. The miners had various grievances, chiefly the cost of mining permits and the officious way the system was enforced.
Since 2012, various theories have emerged, based on the Argus account of the Battle of the Eureka Stockade and an affidavit sworn by Private Hugh King three days later as to a flag being seized from a prisoner detained at the stockade, concerning whether a Union Jack, known as the Eureka Jack was also flown by the rebel garrison. Readers of the Argus were told that:
The flag of the diggers, "The Southern Cross," as well as the "Union Jack," which they had to hoist underneath, were captured by the foot police.
The Eureka Rebellion, an 1854 gold miner's revolt in Victoria, Australia, has been the inspiration for numerous novels, poems, films, songs, plays and artworks. Much of Eureka folklore relies heavily on Raffaello Carboni's 1855 book, The Eureka Stockade, which is the first and only comprehensive eyewitness account of the uprising. The poet Henry Lawson wrote about Eureka, as have many novelists.
The following is a comprehensive timeline of the Eureka Rebellion.
Historians have noted various manifestations of loyalist sentiment throughout the 1851-1854 Eureka Rebellion on the Victorian gold fields. Among the examples that have been cited include a letter from the Mayor of Melbourne to the Lieutenant Governor concerning US Independence Day in 1853, the Bendigo Petition and Red Ribbon Movement protests, the inaugural meeting of the Ballarat Reform League, the Eureka Jack Mystery, and the public protest in Melbourne following the Battle of the Eureka Stockade.
The 1855 Victorian high treason trials took place between 22 February – 27 March in the aftermath of the Battle of the Eureka Stockade. The Goldfields Commission recommended a general amnesty for all on the runs from the fallen Eureka Stockade. Instead, thirteen of the rebels detained were eventually indicted for high treason. The juries all returned a verdict of not guilty by a jury, and the indictment against Thomas Dignum was withdrawn. On 23 January, the trial of Ballarat Times editor Henry Seekamp resulted in a finding of guilt for seditious libel, and a month later, he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of six months. The trials have been described as farcical, and the colonial secretary would rebuke Governor Sir Charles Hotham over prosecuting the Eureka rebels for the lofty offence of high treason.
There were key people involved in the Eureka Rebellion who subscribed to the ideals of Chartism and saw the struggle on the Victorian goldfields as a continuation of the activism in Britain in the 1840s and "the centuries of heroic struggles in England which preceded the Australian Federation" such as the 1688 Glorious Revolution, that resulted in the enactment of the English Bill of Rights. From 1837 to 1848, 129,607 incomers to Australia arrived from the British mainland, with at least 80 "physical force" chartists sentenced to penal servitude in Van Diemens Land. Currey agrees that the population at the time would have been sufficiently politically awake such that: "it may be fairly assumed that the aims of the Anti-Corn-Law League and the Chartists were very familiar to many of the Victorian miners".
The Eureka Stockade was a crude battlement built in 1854 by rebel gold miners at Ballarat, Australia during the Eureka Rebellion. It stood from 30 November until the Battle of the Eureka Stockade on 3 December. The exact dimensions and location of the stockade are a matter of debate among scholars. There are various contemporary representations of the Eureka Stockade, including the 1855 Victorian high treason trials map and Eureka Slaughter by Charles Doudiet.
The Victorian gold rush led to an influx of foreign nationals, increasing the colony's population from 77,000 in 1851 to 198,496 in 1853. Many such as Raffaello Carboni had experienced the Revolutions of 1848. They supported the protest movement that formed on the goldfields in opposition to the mining tax system, ultimately leading to an armed uprising at Ballarat. It is currently known that the participants in the Battle of the Eureka Stockade on 3 December 1854 came from at least 23 different nations, including Australia, Canada, the United States of America, Jamaica, Mauritius, Russia, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, The Netherlands, Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales, Germany, France, Portugal and Spain. Carboni recalled that "We were of all nations and colours." During the 1855 Victorian high treason trials, the Argus court reporter observed that of "the first batch of prisoners brought up for examination, the four examined consisted of one Englishman, one Dane, one Italian, and one negro, and if that is not a foreign collection, we do not know what is." However, despite being present on the Ballarat gold fields, there is no record of any Chinese involvement at the Eureka Stockade. According to figures published by Professor Anne Beggs-Sunter, in her sample of 44 rebels, only one hailed from a non-European country.
During the Battle of the Eureka Stockade, there was a dog that remained at the side of one of the pikemen and even followed his dead body to the cemetery. Christopher Crook, who was a correspondent for the Geelong Advertiser, is quoted in Wiliam Wither's A History of Ballarat as saying:
A little terrier sat on the breast of the man I spoke of, and kept a continuous howl; it was removed, but always returned to the same spot, and when the miner's body was huddled, with the other corpses, into the cart, the little dog jumped in after him, and lying on his dead master's breast, began howling again.
The vexillological aspects of the Eureka Rebellion include the Eureka Flag and others used in protest on the goldfields and those of the British Army units at the Battle of the Eureka Stockade. The disputed first report of the attack on the Eureka Stockade also refers to a Union Jack, known as the Eureka Jack, being flown during the battle that was captured, along with the Eureka Flag, by the foot police.
The Victorian colonial police force of the 1850s operated as an armed paramilitary gendarmerie where troopers and police were garrisoned at central locations, such as the government camp in Ballarat, and there was no interaction with the civilian population. To cope with the expansion of the mining industry, the Victorian government resorted to recruiting at least 130 former convicts from Tasmania who were prone to brutal means. They would get a fifty per cent commission from all fines imposed on unlicensed miners and sly grog sellers. Plainclothes officers enforced prohibition, and those involved in the illegal sale of alcohol were initially handed 50-pound fines. There was no profit for police from subsequent offences, that were instead punishable by months of hard labour. This led to the corrupt practice of police demanding blackmail of 5 pounds from repeat offenders. By January 1853, there were 230 mounted police throughout Victoria. By 1855, the number had risen to 485, including nine mounted detectives.