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The Gold Rush was pivotal for Australia's development as a nation. It boosted the government systems, economy and particularly due to the eureka stockade, democracy. One particular theme during the Gold Rush was the mistreatment of Chinese Miners which can be shown throughout the sources in this page
Might vs Right
Might vs Right
The watercolour painting above titled Might vs Right was painted by Samuel Thomas Gill in 1863. Gill made this painting to comment on the racism present in the society he lived in. He is often referred to as the ‘artist of the goldfields’ due to his attention to detail in his painting depicting every aspect of gold rush mining in Australia at the time.
Gill was driven to make comments on mistreatment of minority miners such as First Nations and Chinese miners. Might vs Right depicts Gills take on the fight at Lambing Flat in 1860. The painting is from a collection of painting from Gill and a less established artist, John Thomas Doyle.
Might vs Right shows the confronting scenes that were a semi regular occurrence during 1850-1865 for mistreated Asian miners.
The Eureka Stockade was much more than a rebellion of miners against the oppressive tyranny of the government, it was, in fact, where Australian Democracy was born… Though the rebellion itself was, for the miners, an unsuccessful battle, their courageous actions managed to capture the government’s attention, which led to the laying of strong foundations for many aspects of the democratic system that Australia has today. The stockade encompassed the battling spirit that so many Australians strived to achieve; the attitudes and determination that endemically appear in so many Australian legends. When thirteen diggers were sent to trial, “…The court was filled to capacity and thousands more waited outside, loudly cheering as the rebels were led to court.” [Stoljar, J. 2011, pg. 53]
This is a secondary source report on the Eureka Stockade written by a historical politics writer, Leah Murray, who is also an expert on Australian politics in the mid-late 1800s.
The attitude presented in this excerpt is that the outbreak from the miners was highly successful in furthering democracy. The author of this document created this source to educate and provide opinions about Australia’s past between 1788 and 1914. Murray believes that the Eureka Stockade was a pivotal point in the creation of democracy in Australia.
The words “managed to capture the government’s attention, which led to the laying of strong foundations for many aspects of the democratic system that Australia has today,” show how the author believed that the miners helped in created a democratically equal society.
This source is useful in showing the connection between current democratic decisions and the Eureka stockade. It bridges the connection between the voice of minorities and the Government systems of Australia in historical Australia to now.
The Eureka oath (1854) says, “We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties.” This relates to the idea that everyone has their own rights in Australia. After European settlement, the Government was making a nation aiming to create a democratic society and this source depicts the authors opinion that when the Government responds to uproars from minorities.
There were around 17,000 Chinese on the goldfields by mid-1855. Labouring together, the Chinese miners would only work the diggings that had already been worked and deserted by Europeans. Yet they were still accused of taking white men’s claims.
Anti-Chinese riots also occurred in Bendigo in July 1854 and the first of the anti-Chinese immigration legislation was introduced in Victoria. An entry tax was imposed of £10 for each Chinese immigrant arriving in Melbourne.
The Chinese successes…caused jealousy and anger from the other miners. They were viewed by large sections of society with suspicion and racism because of their different language, dress, food and customs.
This source in the NSW Library Website, aimed to educated and show both sides of mistreatment on the mine fields.
The attitudes that can be seen in this report is that both sides were mistreated. The white miners who rallied against the Chinese were undermined and mistreated by the government.
The source created in 2018 by a group of research motivated to educate the public about minorities within the minefields. There is a common misconception that they are one collective group however, there were groups that were ostracised within the mining community.
A quote from the Sydney Living Museum states, “By the 1880s anti-Chinese sentiment in NSW was very strong. For example, the premier at the time – Henry Parkes – reflected the view held by many when he stated: “There can be no…intermarriage or social communion between the British and the Chinese.” (H. Parkes – 1888)” This source is useful as it shows different perspectives in mining fields. Some other sources only talk about government mistreatment to miners or other miners mistreating Chinese.
Above are other Samuel Thomas Gill painting that show further aspects of the mining fields
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