the Eureka flag
A Canadian gold miner Henry Ross designed the Eureka Flag during the Eureka Stockade uprising in 1854. The flag was then made by Anastasia Withers, Anne Duke and Anastasia Hayes.
The flag was flown at the center of the stockade fort. During the battle the flag was torn down and shot at. John King, a trooper, kept the flag and it was held by his family until it was loaned to the Ballarat Art Gallery in 1895, where it stayed until 2013, till today it is displayed at it's original home on Bakery Hill in Eureka. It is rare for the original flag of a significant historic event to still be in existence, and is considered a national treasure. Though approximately 1/3 of the flag has been cut off and missing over the decades. The flag is a symbol, to swear an oath, a symbol to unite the workingmen, a symbol to show how far they had been pushed. The original flag was made in 1854, made from wool and cotton with the dimensions of, 2600mm wide x 3240mm high. The five stars on the flag represent the Southern Cross and the white cross joining them represents unity. The blue background represents the blue shirts worn by many of the diggers. The Eureka flag is used as a symbol of rebellion against the authority. The flag is evidence of the growing movement for fairness and democracy that the people of Ballarat deserved. A symbol that united those men that sort justice. "We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties." Peter Lalor, leader of the Ballarat Reform League, swore to the flag and begun the promise to stand by his men, to fight for a 'fair go.' http://eurekaflag.com.au/symbolism_4.html http://www.nfsa.gov.au/digitallearning/heritage/eureka.html |
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