MONSTER MEETING SITE

GOLDEN POINT ROAD GOLDEN POINT, MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE

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Victorian Heritage Register

Monument at the Monster Meeting Site, erected by the Ballarat ReformLeague Inc. on registered land

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    MONSTER MEETING SITE - History

    HISTORY

    
    Part 1: Background to gold licence
    Under English law passed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, gold and silver was the property of the Crown. If land was purchased from the Crown, it did not include ownership of minerals on that land. The 1850s gold rushes in NSW and Victoria were the first in the British Empire, and as such, there were few precedents in British law to guide governments.

    Fearing a rebellion and a loss of their political power and workers, authorities and pastoralists did not reveal early gold discoveries. However, when gold was discovered in central NSW in 1851, the resulting gold rush proved unmanageable, and notices served on gold seekers to cease digging went unheeded. When the authorities could not stop the gold rush, they decided to regulate it through a licence system through which gold diggers paid a fee for the right to mine for gold.

    
    Part 2: The discovery of gold in Victoria and the introduction of the gold licence system
    In the first week of July 1851, Victoria became a separate Colony from New South Wales, and gold was discovered. On 15 August, Charles La Trobe, the Lieutenant Governor of Victoria followed the lead of NSW and issued a proclamation stating that regulations were being prepared for the issue of licences to mine for gold at a reasonable fee. The regulations were enforceable from 1 September 1851 and required an upfront payment of 30 shillings per month. Licences would be issued only for unalientated Crown land and would be issued on the spot by a commissioner who would determine the size of the claim, initially 8ft x 8ft, but later increased to 12ft x 12ft.

    In August 1851 gold was discovered at Buninyong south of Ballarat, and for the first time, the Government dispatched a Gold Commissioner to administer the field. Instead of paying the licence fee, gold diggers staged 'a solemn protest of labour against opposition' and then simply abandoned the goldfield and moved to a new location.

    
    Part 3: The Mount Alexander Gold Rush and gold licence fee increase
    By the end of November 1851, gold had been discovered at Mount Alexander (Forest Creek) which was to become the location of the largest rush seen in Australia. The amount of gold (two tons per week, which in terms of today's gold price would amount to $1 billion per week) flowing into Melbourne from Mount Alexander, meant the desertion from jobs, and inward migration, could no longer be controlled. The population increased significantly with people arriving from other colonies and from overseas.
    In an effort to slow the rush, Governor La Trobe declared that from 1 January 1852, the licence fee would be doubled to £3 per month and that it would not only apply to diggers but to all connected with the search for gold including tent keepers, store keepers and cooks. Notices quickly appeared along the Forest Creek diggings at Mount Alexander urging diggers to meet, agitate for justice and object to the proposed licence fee increase. During the following days a meeting of up to 3,000 people was held to establish the day and location of the Monster Meeting or the Great Meeting as it was originally known.

    
    Part 4: The Monster meeting
    The Monster Meeting, or the Great Meeting as it was originally known, was attended by 10,000 to 15,000 diggers protesting against the increase to the gold licence. Various speakers spoke from the back of a dray, and flags were flown from the trees and raised on poles. One of these flags may have been the precursor to one used at the Red Ribbon Rebellion which depicted scales, a bundle of sticks, and a kangaroo and emu. Although thousands of men attended, the meeting was peaceful. All present agreed not the pay the licence fee. Two days after the Monster Meeting the government announced that the licence fee increase had been revoked, although Governor La Trobe's decision to revoke the licence fee increase was made on 13 December 1851, two days prior to the Monster Meeting.
    The term 'Monster Meeting' originates from mid-eighteenth century Ireland, and was a term used at that time to describe large protest meetings, generally of Catholics, aimed at mobilising mass support to end the union between Ireland and Britain.

    
    Part 5: Location of Monster Meeting, Golden Point, Forest Creek
    On 9 December 1851, the Argus reported that 'bills [were] posted along the Creek calling on diggers to meet this evening at 7 o'clock, near the Post Office to make arrangements for petitioning any increase on the licenses.' That evening, a meeting of about 3,000 men was held near the Post Office. They formed a committee, and determined to meet with the Commissioner the following morning with the expectation that a meeting of 12,000 to 15,000 men would take place the following Monday 15 December 1851.

    The location of the Monster Meeting is described in contemporary articles as being held at the Shepherd's Hut, near the Post Office, about one mile higher up from the Commissioner's Tents. Maps from the period indicate that these structures are located at both Forest Creek, and nearby Fryers Creek. The meeting was advertised through notices addressed to the Mount Alexander diggers which were posted along the creek. The month before, the Argus reporter described the location of the Mount Alexander goldfields as 'not on Mount Alexander, as is generally supposed, but in a gully known as Forest Creek.' In addition, the Argus office was located at Forest Creek and if the meeting was at Fryers Creek, it would be expected that the reporter would have stated this. Speakers and attendees also describe arriving at Forest Creek.

    Later reminiscences about the meeting recall it being held 'near an old shepherd's hut, at the junction of Mount Alexander [Pyrenees Hwy] and a new cut, called the Chewton Road [Golden Point Road] Forest Creek (afterwards named Castlemaine)'; 'at the old shepherd's hut, Golden Point, Forest Creek'; and 'at the Shepherd's hut near Chewton (a piece of rising ground not far from the Mount Alexander Hotel).'

    This documentary evidence confirms the location of the Monster Meeting as Forest Creek, which is covered by the area recommended for registration.

    
    Part 6: The Red Ribbon Rebellion and the Eureka Stockade
    There were a number of subsequent protest meetings against the licencing system and perceived unjust governance of the goldfields. The most significant of these include the Red Ribbon Rebellion (1853) and the Eureka Stockade (1854).

    In June 1853, the Anti-Gold Licence Association was formed in Bendigo. Delegates took a petition of more than 5000 signatures to Governor La Trobe complaining of hardship on the goldfield. They asked for the licence fee to be reduced, and condemned the harsh treatment of those unable to pay. When the delegates returned on 13 August 1853, they were greeted by thousands of diggers at View Point holding flags of all nations, as well as the diggers' flag designed by William Dexter, a china painter from Devon. This flag featured a pick, shovel, and cradle; scales; a bundle of sticks; and a kangaroo and emu, and is thought to have first been flown at the Monster Meeting, Forest Creek. The event became known as the Red Ribbon Rebellion, as supporters wore red ribbons to show their solidarity.

    In 1854, a series of events led to the most well-known gold field protest, the Eureka Stockade where, for the first time, the government used force against the protestors resulting in deaths and injuries on both sides. The catalyst for the Eureka Stockade was the imprisonment of men perceived to be unfairly accused of arson. Diggers met to lobby for their release, protest against the licence and demand the vote. The Ballarat Reform League was formed and at a later meeting, the diggers burnt their licences. On 30 November, diggers met on Bakery Hill and again burnt their licences. They then marched to the Eureka diggings, raised the Southern Cross flag, and constructed the stockade. They were attacked by government troopers and regiments, outnumbered and defeated. Although unsuccessful at the time, the protest eventually resulted in the demise of the gold licence system and the introduction of the more democratic Miner's Right.

    KEY REFERENCES USED TO PREPARE ASSESSMENT

    Annear, Robyn (1999) Nothing But Gold, Text Publishing

    McKimmie, Ken (2011) Chewton Now and Then, self published

    Wositzky, Jarn (2014) The Monster Meeting Book, How Eureka began with the 1851 Forest creek Monster Meeting of Diggers, Chewton Domain Society

    http://www.monstermeeting.net/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballarat_Reform_League

    
    

    Assessment Against Criteria

    MONSTER MEETING SITE - Assessment Against Criteria

    The Monster Meeting Site is significant at the State level for the following reasons:

    The Monster Meeting Site is historically significant as the location of the first organised mass protest meeting objecting to the gold licencing system in Colonial Victoria. It was also the first time workers had stood united in protest against the government. This meeting was the precursor to the Red Ribbon Rebellion (1853) and the Eureka Stockade (1854) which led to the introduction of the more democratic Miners Right. The Monster Meeting Site is located in what was one of the most productive gold mining areas in Victoria, and is historically significant for its association with the development of Victoria through the discovery of gold, and for its association with the beginnings of democracy in Victoria. [Criterion A]

    Plaque Citation

    MONSTER MEETING SITE - Plaque Citation

    PROPOSED TEXT FOR THE BLUE HERITAGE PLAQUE

    On 15.12.1851 more than 10,000 diggers met here to object to the gold licence fee. It was the first organised protest meeting and led to the Red Ribbon Rebellion and the Eureka Stockade It was also the first time workers had protested against the government.

    Permit Exemptions

    MONSTER MEETING SITE - Permit Exemptions

    General Exemptions:

    General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

    Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

    Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

    Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

    Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

    Specific Exemptions:

    PERMIT EXEMPTIONS (under section 42 of the Heritage Act)

    It should be noted that Permit Exemptions can be granted at the time of registration (under s.42(4) of the Heritage Act). Permit Exemptions can also be applied for and granted after registration (under s.66 of the Heritage Act)

    General Condition 1

    All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object.

    General Condition 2

    Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such works shall cease and Heritage Victoria shall be notified as soon as possible.

    General Condition 3

    All works should ideally be informed by Conservation Management Plans prepared for the place. The Executive Director is not bound by any Conservation Management Plan, and permits still must be obtained for works suggested in any Conservation Management Plan.

    General Condition 4

    Nothing in this determination prevents the Heritage Council from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions.

    General Condition 5

    Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the relevant responsible authority, where applicable.

    Specific Permit Exemptions

    . Maintenance of existing vegetation.

    . Removal of plants listed as noxious weeds in the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.

    . The removal or pruning of dead or dangerous trees to maintain safety.

    . Weed and vermin control activities.

    . Fire suppression and firefighting duties such as fuel reduction burns and fire control line construction, provided all heritage features and values of the place are protected.

    . Interpretation and safety signage of a modest size provided it does not adversely affect the heritage features and values of the place or obstruct views to and from it.

    These permit exemptions are consistent with those in the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park (VHR H2407).

    Permit Exemption Policy

    MONSTER MEETING SITE - Permit Exemption Policy

    PERMIT POLICY
    Preamble
    The purpose of the Permit Policy is to assist when considering or making decisions regarding works to a registered place. It is recommended that any proposed works be discussed with an officer of Heritage Victoria prior to making a permit application. Discussing proposed works will assist in answering questions the owner may have and aid any decisions regarding works to the place.

    
    The extent of registration of the Monster Meeting Site in the Victorian Heritage Register affects the whole place shown on Diagram 2368 including the land, landscape elements and other features. Under the Heritage Act 1995 a person must not remove or demolish, damage or despoil, develop or alter or excavate, relocate or disturb the position of any part of a registered place or object without approval. It is acknowledged, however, that alterations and other works may be required to keep places and objects in good repair and adapt them for use into the future.

    
    If a person wishes to undertake works or activities in relation to a registered place or registered object, they must apply to the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria for a permit. The purpose of a permit is to enable appropriate change to a place and to effectively manage adverse impacts on the cultural heritage significance of a place as a consequence of change. If an owner is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that Heritage Victoria be contacted.
    Permits are required for anything which alters the place or object, unless a permit exemption is granted. Permit exemptions usually cover routine maintenance and upkeep issues faced by owners as well as minor works or works to the elements of the place or object that are not significant. They may include appropriate works that are specified in a conservation management plan. Permit exemptions can be granted at the time of registration (under s.42 of the Heritage Act) or after registration (under s.66 of the Heritage Act).

    
    It should be noted that the addition of new buildings to the registered place, as well as alterations to the interior and exterior of existing buildings requires a permit, unless a specific permit exemption is granted.
    Conservation management plans

    
    It is recommended that a Conservation Management Plan is developed to manage the place in a manner which respects its cultural heritage significance.

    
    Aboriginal cultural heritage
    If any Aboriginal cultural heritage is discovered or exposed at any time it is necessary to immediately contact Aboriginal Victoria to ascertain requirements under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.

    
    Human remains
    If any suspected human remains are found during any works or activities, the works or activities must cease. The remains must be left in place, and protected from harm or damage. Victoria Police and the State Coroner's Office must be notified immediately. If there are reasonable grounds to believe that the remains are Aboriginal, the Coronial Admissions and Enquiries hotline must be contacted immediately on 1300 888 544. As required under s.17(3)(b) of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 all details about the location and nature of the human remains must be provided to the Secretary (as defined in the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006).

    
    Other approvals
    Please be aware that approval from other authorities (such as local government) may be required to undertake works.

    
    Archaeology
    Ground disturbance may affect the archaeological deposits at the place and, subject to the exemptions stated in this document, requires a permit.

    
    Cultural heritage significance
    Overview of significance
    All of the land identified in Diagram 2368 is of primary cultural heritage significance. The cultural heritage significance of the Monster Meeting Site lies in the land on which the first major organised protest meeting to protest against increases to the gold licence fee took place. It was also the first time workers had had stood united in protest against the government. This meeting was the precursor to the Red Ribbon Rebellion (1853) and the Eureka Stockade (1854) which led to the introduction of the more democratic Miners Right. The heritage values of the place are evident in the contours of the land, the creek beds and the surrounding hillsides.
    

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