Eureka Stockade history

Part 1: Huge meeting decides
the objectives of the diggers

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At a meeting held on Bakery Hill (Ballarat) in the presence of about 10,000 men, on Saturday, November 11, 1854, the following were adopted, as the principles and objectives of the Ballarat Reform league:

That it is the inalienable right of every citizen to have a voice in making the laws he is called upon to obey.

That taxation without representation is tyranny.

That being as the people have been hitherto, unrepresented in the legislative Council of the Colony of Victoria, they have been tyrannised over, and it becomes their duty as well as an interest to resist and, if necessary, to remove the irresponsible power which so tyrannised them.

That this colony has hitherto been governed by paid officials, upon the false assumption that the law is greater than justice, because, forsooth, it was made by them and their friends, and admirably suits their selfish ends and narrow minded views.

It is the object of the league to place the power in the hands of responsible representatives of the people to frame wholesome laws and carry on an honest Government. That it is not the wish of the league to effect an immediate separation of this colony from the parent country, if equal laws and equal rights are dealt out to the whole free community; but that, if Queen Victoria continues to act upon the ill advice of dishonest ministers and insists upon indirectly dictating obnoxious laws for the colony, under the assumed authority of the Royal prerogative, the Reform League will endeavour to supersede such Royal prerogative by asserting that of the people, which is the most royal of all prerogatives, as the people are the only legitimate source of all political power.

Political changes contemplated by the Reform League:

1. A full and fair representation.
2. Manhood suffrage.
3. No property qualification of members for the Legislative Council.
4. Payment of members.
5. Short duration of Parliament


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