Ballarat | The Pikeman's Dog

Ballarat | The Pikeman's Dog

Charles Smith & Joan Walsh-Smith
1999

I'd  heard of the Eureka Stockade but admittedly I had no idea what it entailed until the writing of this post. one of the links I came across had a rather objective short video for it which was really helpful.

Essentially migrants who settled in Australia grew discontent with the greed and unfair conditions that arose surrounding permits and licenses required to mine during the Eureka Goldrush.

A rebellion formed, a stockade was made and conditions rose to a level where 150 rebels were attacked by nearly 300 police and soldiers. 22 rebels and 6 government workers died during the Eureka stockade. 

Among the deceased was the owner of a loyal terrier named 'Wee Jock' Accounts tell of a dog who stayed with his master during the battle and when the dust settled and his master was loaded onto a wagon for burial accompanied the wagon howling the entire way.

Despite the Stockadists losing the fight the public outcry forced the government to set free the stockadists arrested during the battle charged with treason, rebel leaders were elected into parliament and reforms were made to mining licenses.

The monument itself is Wee Jock standing at the forefront of 22 pikes, one pike for each miner who died during the battle. The V shape is perhaps symbolic of a corner turned in history or perhaps V is for Victory. 

This is unfortunately the only photo I took or perhaps the only surviving photo after years of being on my laptop. 

📍 Eureka Centre Ballarat 

Comments