It's amazing how ignorant you can be about your own country's history. I have just finished reading Peter Fitzsimons book 'Eureka - The Unfinished Revolution'. It's the story of the massacre by government forces of the diggers on the gold fields of Ballarat on the morning of Sunday, December 3rd, 1854. The diggers had agitated long and hard for the gold licensing laws to be repealed. The government at the time was concerned that the new colony might go the way of America and that there would be a revolution against the Queen.
The court cases following the attack, at which all the accused diggers were acquired of treason led to the downfall of Sir Charles Hotham, the governor of the state of Victoria.
Ultimately all the changes the diggers had agitated for became law with a number of the leaders of the revolt ending up on parliament.
It's a great yarn and although I knew of the Eureka Stockade as an event in history, I had no understanding of the reasons behind it and how the diggers ultimately triumphed.
Well worth a read.
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