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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.[1] 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 five soldiers.[2][3]
The field is Prussian blue, measuring 260 by 400 centimetres (100 in × 160 in) (2:3.08 ratio) and made from a fine woollen fabric. The horizontal arm of the cross is 37 centimetres (15 in) wide, and the vertical arm is 36 centimetres (14 in) tall. The central star is slightly larger (8.5%) than the others, being about 65 centimetres (26 in), all from point to point and the other stars 60 centimetres (24 in). The white stars are made from a fine cotton lawn, and the off-white cross is cotton twill.[4][note 1] In addition to a modern, standardised version, there are also other Eureka Flag variants.
Since the 19th century, the Eureka Flag has achieved customary use as a general-purpose symbol of protest and has been adopted by supporters of the Australian republic and trade union movements. It has also been incorporated into the official logo of the far-right Australia First Party and is often seen on bumper stickers accompanied by white nationalist political slogans. There have been efforts, such as around the time of the 150th anniversary in 2004 by Ballarat MP Catherine King, to give legal standing to the Eureka Flag under the Flags Act and to reserve it for more progressive causes.
The Eureka Flag is listed as an object of significance on the Victorian Heritage Register[6] and was designated as a Victorian icon by the National Trust of Australia in 2006.[7] The "King" fragments are part of the collection of the Art Gallery of Ballarat, which is responsible for their conservation. Since 2013, they have been on a long-term loan to the interpretative centre located at the Eureka Stockade Memorial Park, where they remain on public display. There are also other notable authenticated Eureka Flag fragments to have been exhibited and sold at auction.
The disputed first report of the attack on the Eureka Stockade also refers to a Union Jack being flown during the battle that was captured, along with the Eureka Flag, by the foot police.[8]
- ^ Corfield, Wickham & Gervasoni 2004, p. xiii.
- ^ Corfield, Wickham & Gervasoni 2004, p. xiv.
- ^ Wright 2013, p. 480, note 2.
- ^ Wickham, Gervasoni & D'Angri 2000, pp. 4, 71, 74–75.
- ^ Wickham, Gervasoni & D'Angri 2000, pp. 64–68.
- ^ "Eureka Flag, Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H2097". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Victoria. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
- ^ "First Victorian Icons Named". National Trust of Australia. 2006. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010.
- ^ "By Express. Fatal Collision at Ballaarat". The Argus. Melbourne. 4 December 1854. p. 5. Retrieved 17 November 2020 – via Trove.
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