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The discovery of gold in Victoria had a dramatic effect on the state. In 1863 there were about 60,000 diggers plus their families on the
gold fields. Of these about 23,000 were at Bendigo. In June 1853, an Anti-Gold License
Association was formed at Bendigo to give voice to the diggers many grievances about their
conditions, and centred on the 30 shilling a month license fee they had to pay. A petition was
drawn up stating their grievances and the need for an improved law and order, such as the right
to vote and the right to buy land. The petition, which was signed by over 30,000 diggers, was
brought to Melbourne and presented to Lieutenant-Governor C. J. LaTrobe in August 1853. After the
failure to be heard through peaceful means, diggers elected a small group to lead them into
their fight. An Irish gold digger named of Peter Lalor was the leader. On December 2nd
1854, Lalor ordered a stockade to be built to serve as a fort for their defence, and called for
muskets, pistols and any other weapons they could muster. Once the stockade was completed, the
rebel miners assembled in side. Lalor asked them to repeat the Eureka Oath..
"WE SWEAR BY THE SOUTHERN CROSS TO STAND TRULY BY EACH OTHER AND TO FIGHT TO
DEFEND OUR RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES."
The miners waited for the inevitable attack. They weren't trained for fighting and many
miners left the stockade on the Sunday to go to church. The English Government troops not only
struck on the Sabbath but at 3am, taking the remaining 120 miners by surprise. They killed 22 and
wounded 12 others - Peter Lalor included. They took 100 prisoners and captured the stockade in
20 minutes. Although Lalor's miners lost the battle, they eventually got the reforms they fought
for. Miners were given licenses for one pound a year. They were also given the right to vote,
and finally miners who were in prison for treason were freed.
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