In order to understand Red Ribbon Rebellion and Eureka the chronology of events needs to be stated. The fundamental issue that so upset the diggers was the cost of the miners’ license and the way it was enforced. The miners were expected to pay 30 shillings a month for a license to search for gold. There were daily digger hunts to enforce this tax.

“With new-found wealth from success on the goldfields the diggers soon began to assume a power of their own; it was the power of common rights, equality and suffrage, and they demanded their right and equal place-under the southern skies.”

15 ^th December 1851- 14000 men gathered for the great meeting of diggers at Forest Creek, near Chewton.