Anti-Gold Licence Association

The Anti-Gold Licence Association was formed in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia on 6 June 1853.

On 1 August Governor La Trobe was presented with a petition of more than 5,000 signatures, now known as the Bendigo Petition.^[1]

At a meeting at View Point, Bendigo on 12 August ten to twelve thousand diggers turned up wearing red ribbons around their hats. The miners objected to the high charge for the Miner's Licence and resolved to pay no more than 10 shillings in licence fees and, if this reduction was refused, to pay no more fees. All miners supporting the resolution would continue to wear red ribbons in their hat as a symbol of defiance. In response to the agitation at Bendigo, all available military forces in the colony were sent to the Bendigo gold field.^[2] On 27 August Bendigo miners demanded a reduction in the licence fee and in September only 400 of the 14,000 miners renewed their licences. On 30 August Governor La Trobe announced the abolition of the licence system to be substituted by export duty and a small registration fee.^[3] The Victorian Legislative Council rejected La Trobe's proposal and his promise was not enacted and the licence system continued.^[2]

References

1. ^ "Bendigo Petition 1853 Australian Manuscripts Collection". Treasures. State Library of Victoria. 2005. http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/collections/treasures/bendigopetition1.html. Retrieved 2006-12-19. 
2. ^ ^{a b} McPherson, Hamish (2004). ""To stand truly by each other": The Eureka rebellion and the continuing struggle for democracy". Marxist Interventions: Articles from Australia in the social sciences. Australian National University. http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/interventions/eureka.htm. Retrieved 2006-12-20. 
3. ^ Aplin, Graeme, S.G. Foster and Michael McKernan (eds.), ed (1987). Australians: Events and Places. Broadway, New South Wales, Australia: Fairfax, Syme & Weldon Associates. p. 65. ISBN 0-949288-13-6.