Immigration and Class Distinctions
Immigration on the goldfields reinforced Australia as a nation without class distinctions and also
effected democracy on the goldfields. It all started with the discovery of gold in Australia.This news travelled lightning fast and people began considering the long voyage to Australia with hope of striking rich. The population in Victoria went from 20,000 (population in 1851) to 150,000 (population in 1858) in just seven years. Australia was no longer a dumping ground for convicts but rather a land of freedom and possibility. The goldfields were home to a diverse variety of nationalities including British, Chinese, American. French, Italian, German, Polish, Irish and even Hungarian exiles. Each nationality brought their own customs, traditions and beliefs but despite their differences they united as one to fight for their right to vote. Forming the democratic nation we know today. Many diggers who rushed to Australia in the 1850s had fought for democracy in their home countries and they were prepared to fight for their rights in Australia too. To keep this huge population of miners in order and to get themselves some extra cash, the government introduced miner licenses. It cost 30 shillings per month, which was roughly one-third of a working man's weekly wage. Governor Hotham ,who came to power in June 1854, set up licence checks twice a week to enforce the licensing laws. Licence fees had to be paid regardless of whether a digger was successful in finding gold or otherwise. Therefore less successful diggers found it difficult to pay their licence fees. Tensions began to boil over as opposition to the licences increased. Police and government corruption was another concern for the diggers. This issue reached crisis point after a drunken Scottish digger, named James Scobie, was beaten to death. The group included local hotel owner James Bentley. Bentley was a friend of the local magistrate and he avoided prosecution, as did three other men from the group. This led to the diggers meeting on 17 October to try to bring the men to justice. After the meeting a crowd of diggers burnt Bentley's hotel to the ground. Soon after three diggers were arrested and charged with arson for their involvement in setting fire to the hotel. On 11 November, 10,000 diggers met to demand the release of the three diggers, the abolition of the gold licence and the vote for all males. The outcome of this meeting was the forming of the Ballarat Reform League under the chairmanship of John Basson Humffray. The Ballarat Reform League was a group of diggers which demanded; more rights for citizens, no license fees, vote for males and the release of arrested rioters. They produced a document called a charter which stated these demands and presented it to Governor Hotham, but he objected and refused to act. This group was made of miners from all different nationalities and they stood together to fight against class distinctions. This was followed by an even larger meeting on 29 November where the diggers decided to publicly burn their mining licences. At this meeting the famous Southern Cross flag, which was to become known as the Eureka Flag (representing workers rights), was displayed. On 30 November another mass burning of licences took place at a meeting on Bakery Hill. Under the leadership of Peter Lalor, the diggers then marched to the Eureka diggings, where they constructed the famous stockade. The stockade itself was a temporary wooden barricade. Inside the stockade around 500 diggers took an oath under the Eureka flag to 'stand truly by each other and fight to defend (their) rights and liberties'. Early in the morning of Sunday 3 December 1854 the authorities launched an attack on the stockade. The diggers were outnumbered and the battle was over in twenty minutes. Twenty-two diggers and five troops were killed. Peter Lalor escaped the scene even though his arm had been badly injured (which later had to be amputated). Although the miners were outnumbered and had seemingly lost, Australia's first and only battle was not for nothing. The Victorian government at the time was made up of wealthy landowners, but after the Eureka stockade, they realised they had to share power with ordinary working people. In March 1855 the government passed a law replacing gold licenses with a low-cost miner's right, which gave all male diggers the right to vote. Australia's democracy grew out of the ideas of rights and freedom that began on the goldfields. The Eureka rebellion is considered by many to be the birthplace of Australian democracy. By Sophie |
Glossary
Immigration - moving to live permanently in a foreign country Class Distinction - A status hierarchy in which individuals and groups are classified on the basis of esteem usually acquired through wealth and family. Democracy - a system of government that promotes equality by giving power to the people who either rule directly or through freely elected representatives Corruption - dishonest conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery Magistrate - an official judge entrusted with the administration of the law Arson - the malicious burning of another house or property Liberties - the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's behaviour or political views. References Macintosh, C. (2011). How Gold Changed Australia. Sarah Russell, 20 Thackray Road, Port Melbourne, Victoria. Parry, A. (2007). Riots, Robberies and Rebellions. MacMillan Education Australia, 15-19 Claremont Street, South Yarra, Victoria. SBS Gold [internet]. Available from: http://www.sbs.com.au/gold/ (Accessed on 27/4/15) Australian Gold Rush [internet]. Available from: http://www.sbs.com.au/gold/ (Accessed on 2/5/15) Gold Rush Colony [internet]. Available from: http://www.goldrushcolony.com.au/australian-gold- history-culture-info/immigrant-influences-australian-gold-fields/population-goldfiel (Accessed on 30/4/15) |