Diggers Oath

From eurekapedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Charles A. Doudiet, Swearing allegiance to the 'Southern Cross’, 1854, watercolour, pen and ink on paper.
Courtesy Art Gallery of Ballarat, purchased by the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery with the assistance of many donors, 1996.
The Revolt at Eureka’ cover by R. Wenban. Schools Publishing House, 1959.

On 29 November 1854 a ‘Monster Meeting’ was held on Bakery Hill protesting against the gold licence which was seen as an unjust tax. A flag, representing the Southern Cross, with white stars on a dark blue background, was flown on an eighty foot pole taken from Bullarook. The diggers took the ‘Oath of the Southern Cross’. They knelt, and with heads uncovered pointed to the banner and said:

We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties.

See Also

Ballarat Reform League

Eureka Flag

Eureka Timeline

Unknown maker (Australia), The flag of the Southern Cross (Eureka Flag), 1854, wool, cotton.
Art Gallery of Ballarat Collection. Gift of the King family, 2001