Eureka: New Illustrated Edition

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

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.

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.

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).