Primary history- Australia as a Nation

This site contains copies of original letters written by people involved in the events of the Eureka Stockade, such as Lieutenant Governor Hotham's report on “a serious riot and collision at the Ballaarat Gold Field”. As these documents are true historical artefacts, they could be used as background information before asking students to write expositions or perform debates using the different viewpoints of significant people involved in the Eureka Stockade. Perspectives from Lieutenant Governor Hotham, Police (the Native Police Corps and the British Police), Peter Lalor, and miners should be considered.

Another activity would involve students interpreting and rewriting the Ballarat Reform League charter in their own words so that they understand the meaning.

This site also has links to the Eureka Stockade timeline. A lesson plan may involve mapping the consecutive steps the miners took before accumulating enough frustration to rebel.

The site poses questions for consideration, such as:

What was the purpose in forming the Ballarat Reform League?

Why do you think the thirteen prisoners tried for treason were not found guilty?

Why was the meeting on Bakery Hill so significant – what did it represent to both the authorities and to the diggers?

Could the miners have avoided violence in an effort to achieve their objectives?

The main purpose of this site is to enable students to differentiate information based on personal perspectives of 'facts'.