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Trials were held for both the death of Scobie and the arson of the Eureka Hotel.  On 20 November James Bentley, William Hance and Thomas Farrell (both staff of the hotel), were found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 3 years hard labour.  On the same day 3 of the rioters (Andrew McIntyre, Thomas Fletcher and Henry Westerby) were found guilty of riot and “pulling down a dwelling house” and sentenced to 3, 4 and 6 months respectively, which were considered to be quite lenient sentences.

Trials were held for both the death of Scobie and the arson of the Eureka Hotel.  On 20 November James Bentley, William Hance and Thomas Farrell (both staff of the hotel), were found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 3 years hard labour.  On the same day 3 of the rioters (Andrew McIntyre, Thomas Fletcher and Henry Westerby) were found guilty of riot and “pulling down a dwelling house” and sentenced to 3, 4 and 6 months respectively, which were considered to be quite lenient sentences.

On 30 November a [[licence hunt]] at the “Gravel Pits” was met by a large number of defiant miners and a riot ensued, resulting in a number of injuries and arrests.  On 1 or 2 December rebelling miners fortified about an acre of the Eureka goldfield  (the 'stockade'), and prepared for armed resistance to licence hunts.  Early on the morning of 3 December 1854 government troops overwhelmed the stockade.  During the battle 22 miners and 5 government troops were killed. Although Peter Lalor and other leaders of the rebellion escaped arrest, approximately 100 of the men at the stockade were arrested.  All but 13 of these were then released due to lack of evidence.  The remaining 13 were tried for treason, but the juries acquitted all of them.<ref>[http://eureka.imagineering.com.au/home.htm| Eureka on Trial]</ref>

On 30 November a [[licence hunt]] at the “Gravel Pits” was met by a large number of defiant miners and a riot ensued, resulting in a number of injuries and arrests.  On 1 or 2 December rebelling miners fortified about an acre of the Eureka goldfield  (the 'stockade'), and prepared for armed resistance to licence hunts.  Early on the morning of 3 December 1854 government troops overwhelmed the stockade.  During the battle 22 miners and 5 government troops were killed. Although Peter Lalor and other leaders of the rebellion escaped arrest, approximately 100 of the men at the stockade were arrested.  All but 13 of these were then released due to lack of evidence.  The remaining 13 were tried for treason, but the juries acquitted all of them.<ref>[http://eureka.imagineering.com.au/home.htm Eureka on Trial]</ref>

One of the leaders, Peter Lalor, later became a member of the Victorian parliament.<ref>[http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/speaker/former/lalor.htm Peter Lalor]</ref>

One of the leaders, Peter Lalor, later became a member of the Victorian parliament.<ref>[http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/speaker/former/lalor.htm Peter Lalor]</ref>

The Southern Cross flag raised by the miners has become an icon of defiance and solidarity in Australia, and is a favoured icon of the Australian Labour Union movement.

The Southern Cross flag raised by the miners has become an icon of defiance and solidarity in Australia, and is a favoured icon of the Australian Labour Union movement.

== Reference ==

== References ==

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[[Category:Australia]]

[[Category:Australia]]