Why is the Eureka Stockade an important part in Australia's history?

The Eureka Stockade was the 1854 miners' uprising on the goldfields of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Conditions on the Australian goldfields were harsh. Most diggers worked from dawn to dusk, six days a week. Sometimes they were lucky and had a good strike. Often they found very little at all.

The main source of discontent was the miner's licence, which cost a monthly fee of 30 shillings and permitted the holder to work a 3.6 metre square "claim". Licences had to be paid regardless of whether a digger's claim resulted in the finding of any gold. Troopers (goldfields police) consucted frequent licence hunts, during which the miners were ordered to produce proof of their licences, and this added to the discontent and increasing unrest. Previous delegations for miners' rights had met with a complete lack of action from the Victorian government, so on 29 November 1854, the miners burned their licences in a united, mass resistance against the laws over the miners. Following a widespread licence hunt on November 30, Irish immigrant Peter Lalor was elected to lead the rebellion, which culminated in the huge battle, now known as the Battle of the Eureka Stockade, on December 3.

Despite its apparent failure, the Eureka Stockade gained the attention of the Government. A Commission of Enquiry followed and changes were made. These included abolishing the monthly gold licences, which were replaced by a much more affordable annual miner's licence. There were fewer troopers on the goldfields, and intrusive spot-checks ceased.

Legislative Council was expanded to allow representation to the major goldfields. Peter Lalor and another representative, John Basson Humffray, were elected for Ballarat. Later, Lalor was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria. For these reasons, the Eureka Stockade is regarded by many as the birthplace of Australian Democracy, and hence an important part of Australia's history.