Today (3rd December) is the 150th anniversary of the event that took place in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Miners on the Ballarat goldfields were stirred up over having to pay a very hefty licence fee just to enable them to dig, and were further enraged by the high-handed methods by which the regulation was enforced. In addition, the miners had no say in the election of members to the Victorian parliament. They formed the Ballarat Reform League to push for a true democracy in Victoria. The more militant among the miners, including a contingent from the Californian '49ers, erected a crude stockade on the Eureka goldfield and swore to 'defend' themselves against tyranny. It is unclear what if any, plans they had to take on the Victorian government, but in any case they were pre-empted. Before dawn on that Sunday morning Dec 3rd, a combined force of some 300 British soldiers and troopers of the Victorian Police launched an attack on the camp which was on the outskirts of Ballarat township and in the course of 20 minutes killed 30 miners. Five of the attackers were also killed.

The incident is variously referred to as a rebellion, a civil disturbance and a protest, depending on one's point of view, or the historians one has been reading. But soon after many of the demands of the Reform League were indeed granted. Not only in Victoria but throughout Australia such reforms as the secret ballot and universal manhood suffrage were introduced making this country an example of democracy to the world.

For whatever reason, our Australian Prime Minister has declined to attend any ceremonies of remembrance, celebration or reconciliation. He also has apparently deplored moves to fly the Eureka flag on all Australian government buildings today, particularly over the Federal Parliament House in Canberra.

It would be interesting to get mudcatters' views, Australian or others.