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It was very dangerous travelling, because there were any amount of robbers, thieves, murderers, and bushrangers ( outlaws) roaming about in the bush just waiting for a chance to pounce on the unsuspecting traveller. These rogues had names like Captain Thunderbolt, Captain Moonlight, and Mad Dan Morgan. One took one's life in one's own hands travelling for long distances on horseback or in wagons, but that was the only way to get anywhere. Although the first settlement of Europeans in Australia was in 1788, the first attempt at settlement in Victoria was made in 1803 by Lieutenant David Collins, but the harsh conditions forced him to move on to Tasmania where he eventually settled Hobart in February 1804. It was not until the Henty brothers landed in Portland Bay in 1834, and John Batman settled on the site of Melbourne, that the Port Phillip District (Victoria) was officially sanctioned (1837). The first immigrant ships arrived at Port Phillip in 1839. In 1851 Victoria (Port Phillip District) separated from New South Wales. John was just 24 years old when he arrived in Australia, and he went directly to the current gold mining rush at Ballarat, some sixty odd miles from the port of Melbourne. Immediately it seems, he entered into partnership with a William McCallum, which would last for many years. I have a letter from the Ballarat Historical Society ".........We have a list made up by a Father Linane, of Ballarat residents in 1854 and it includes an entry for Gordon & McCallum's store, no address, as most businesses were carried out in tents...........Father Linane does not say where the information came from, but at least proof that he (John Gordon) was there". John & his business partner William apparently had a tent-housed business selling supplies to the local miners. A family story suggested that John thought mining was fool's business. It took me two years to find actual written proof that John had gone to Ballarat as soon as he arrived, but whether the two men had known each other prior to this is still unknown. It is certain that John would have realized that he may never see his family in England again, but I am sure he never dreamed that he would be about to see history made in this country town of few real buildings & dwellings, that in 1854 consisted of hundreds of tents. There is no written evidence that he ever joined the Ballarat Reform League - a newly formed union fighting for better conditions for the miners - but one can only speculate that he knew the turmoil that was brewing, but he is certain to have heard the rumours. There is one small shred of evidence that his partner William McCallum was well aware of the current climate, this being a list in the Eureka Library division of the Public Records Office of Victoria. The entry on this list states simply - "McCallum, William, Storekeeper - indirectly involved". Prior to John's arrival in the colony the situation between the authorities and the miners was explosive to say the least.
The events that lead up the this occurred firstly on October 7 1854 when James Scobie was murdered at Bentley's Eureka Hotel. The publican James Bentley, was arrested for the murder, but not before he had written a letter to the Police Magistrate in Ballarat in an attempt to gain some form of assistance from the authorities, suspecting a public act of disobedience might occur. On October 12, after a riot by miners, Bentley's Hotel was burned to the ground, in protest of Bentley's acquittal of murdering James Scobie. Three miners were arrested and sent to prison. A retrial followed later and Bentley and two others were found guilty of the manslaughter of James Scobie and sent to prison. On November 11, the Ballarat Reform League was formed with the view of abolishing licences and having the miners released. Due to the lack of response to these demands a stockade was set up and maintained spasmodically on the Eureka Lead. Led by Peter Lalor, egged on by brutal force from the authorities and the miners increasing frustration, the miners burned their licences the 3rd December 1854. A surprise attack on the stockade ensued, instituted by the Goverment troops, which included a crack British Regiment who had fought recently in the American Civil War. The battle was short & deadly, and up to thirty miners and six Government troopers were killed. One hundred and fourteen miners were taken prisoner. It is to the credit of the government of the time that the injustices to the miners in the goldfields were recognised and the "rebels" later pardoned for their part in the rebellion. Their leader, Peter Lalor, later became a member of parliament. By these actions the Australian Nation was born. In terms of the larger scenario, the Eureka Rebellion therefore represents the moment of birth. The Eureka Stockade has become a symbol of Australians' unwillingness to bow to perceived injustice. In 1988, The Eureka's Children Committee officially recognised John Gordon as being there. Even though he is not listed as having taken an active part in the rebellion, this recognition permits his descendants to be known as "Children of Eureka".  and fight to defend our freedom and rights. Amen."  |