Activity 4 - Changes for the Better
After the battle of Eureka, hundreds of diggers were arrested and beaten. The troopers also attacked and killed innocent bystanders and burned down their tents. Newspapers reported these events and the public were outraged.
In March 1855, the enquiry set up by Governor Hotham to look into the miners’ problems recommended changes to the laws. Gold licences were replaced with miners’ rights, costing just £1 ($2) per year, and licence inspections were banned. More importantly, the diggers who bought a miner’s right were given the right to vote. In 1855, the miners voted their hero, Peter Lalor, into the Legislative Council. |
Miner's Licence
This gold licence was issued by the Victorian government to miner ‘J Hedger’ in 1854. Gold licences raised money for the government and helped police to keep track of miners. Miners complained that the licence was too expensive and unfair because they had to pay for it even if they did not nd gold.
Issued by government
Gold licences were introduced in Victoria in 1851, soon after the discovery of gold. Licences helped the government to keep track of the large number of people moving to previously sparsely populated areas. They also raised money to pay for roads, administration and police. Unpopular with miners The gold licence was very unpopular among miners. They complained it was too expensive and that it was unfair because it did not give them the right to buy property or vote. Many miners refused to buy a licence or could not a ord one. The cost was the same regardless of whether a miner found any gold. This meant that miners who were unsuccessful paid the same as those who may have struck it rich. There was also very little leniency shown by police. Licences had to be carried at all times, meaning if a miner lost his gold licence or if it was destroyed in dirty or wet working conditions, he could be arrested. Source: National Museum Australia; http://www.nma.gov.au/kspace |
By forcing each gold digger to purchase a license (also called a miner's right), the colonial government could generate revenue to police the goldfields. The government charged each digger one pound, ten shillings each month for the license to dig in the hope that it would drive some classes of people back to the cities. Diggers sold their belongings, sometimes even their horses to pay for the license to dig.
The search for diggers' licenses on the goldfields were conducted by police. The intense dislike of the license system united the diggers and the legendary mateship that developed amongst the diggers is often attributed to their mutual hatred for police authority. The warning would go about amongst the diggers that the police were approaching, with the cry, 'Joe, Joe!' or 'Traps' (troopers): 'the traps are out today'. Widespread police corruption and the licensing system ensured that diggers were united against these forces of authority on the goldfields. (Source: NSW State Library) |
Miner's Right
Miner’s right
Public sympathy was with the miners and by midway through 1855 the Victorian government replaced the gold licence with the miner’s right. The right was cheaper and provided political representation. The miner’s right continues to operate in Victoria today.
Source: National Museum Australia; http://www.nma.gov.au/kspace
Public sympathy was with the miners and by midway through 1855 the Victorian government replaced the gold licence with the miner’s right. The right was cheaper and provided political representation. The miner’s right continues to operate in Victoria today.
Source: National Museum Australia; http://www.nma.gov.au/kspace
Miner's Right, license for George Johnson, 1862-1873
Source: NSW State Library
Source: NSW State Library
Thinking Questions
Question 1Why was it important for the government to have a licensing system on the goldfields?
|
Question 2What were the main differences between the gold licence and the miner’s right?
|
Question 3Which goldfields events or incidents were a reaction to the unfairness of the gold licence?
|