Australian History
Book Details

Eureka

NEW ILLUSTRATED EDITION

John Molony

The story of the Eureka Stockade, Australia’s first and only armed rebellion for democratic rights.

Opinion

‘Eureka Stockade and Ned Kelly are surely our most potent historical symbols — not merely because they are abiding symbols of resistance to corrupt authority, but because they are such good stories.’ (H. A. Willis, The West Australian, 12 January 2002)

‘. . .a classic scholarly work. . . It’s an absolute must for every Ballarat library, private or public.’ (Nina Valentine, Ballarat Courier, 21 December 2001)

About this Title

Before dawn on 3 December 1854, colonial troopers at Ballarat attacked a group of gold miners who had thrown up a stockade in defiance and defence. Some diggers had guns, but many were unarmed; some twenty of them were killed, along with four troopers.

In the decades that followed, the truth of what happened that morning became obscured by partisans on both sides. For many years the Eureka Stockade was regarded as a shameful event and almost forgotten; more recently, it has been celebrated as a righteous stand against injustice.

John Molony’s Eureka vividly recreates the story of Eureka and unravels the myths that have come to surround it.

The story of Australia’s first and only armed rebellion for democratic rights continues to provoke passionate controversy and debate.

This new edition of Molony’s classic work—now beautifully illustrated with historic Eureka images—will be welcomed by everyone with an interest in the history of Australian democracy.

Table of Contents

Preface
Preface to the First Edition

1 Bought at a Price
2 The Actors Assemble
3 A Change of Governors
4 First Death at Eureka
5 From Camp to Garrison
6 The Harassment of Hotham
7 Bakery Hill
8 Last Words
9 The Monster Meeting
10 The End of an Era
11 Stockade
12 Night of a Young Moon
13 A Flag Unfurled
14 High Treason
15 The Making of a Legend

Notes
Bibliography
Conversions
Index

About the Author

John Molony has been Professor of History and then Manning Clark Professor of Australian History at the Australian National University, Canberra (1975–91), Keith Cameron Professor of Australian History at University College Dublin (1991–93) and Foundation Research Professor of the Australian Catholic University (1993–96). He is currently Visiting Fellow, Australian Dictionary of Biography, at the Australian National University.

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978-0-522-84962-2