In December 1851, 173 years ago, 15,000 gold miners gathered for a Monster Meeting at Forest Creek to defy colonial governor Charles La Trobe’s plans to double the cost of their gold licence.
The annual celebration of the Diggers’ 1851 Monster Meeting at Forest Creek is set to take place once again this Sunday December 15.
The gathering will be held at Monster Meeting site in Golden Point Road, Chewton, and community members are welcome to attend.
Chewton Domain Society and Parks Victoria are once again joining forces to commemorate this historic event.
Chewton Domain Society’s Pat Healy said the diggers were determined to take a stand.
“The gold licence was already 30 shillings a month and they would not pay any more. They had few rights and no vote but they stood united in demanding an end to the licence system and achieve greater civil rights. They forced La Trobe to back down and rescind the licence fee increase,” she said.
“The Forest Creek Diggers’ rebellion kick-started the protest movement that spread across Victoria. By 1853 the Red Ribbon Rebellion in Bendigo forced the government to finally draft the first Victorian Constitution, and in 1854 the Diggers’ uprising at Eureka finally brought about the end of the old order and forced elections for a democratic parliament in 1855,” Pat said.
Participants will gather at 10am Sunday to to raise the Diggers’ flag on the site of victorious rebellion.
Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards will share the story of how they started the protest movement that transformed Victoria from a British military colony to a parliamentary democracy.
From 10.30am to noon you can try panning for gold in Forest Creek with help from Parks Vic Rangers. Pans will be provided (but gold is not guaranteed) or you can BYO pan.
