Victorian gold
The gold rush and its impact on cultural life

ST Gill
born England 1818, died Australia 1880

License [sic] inspected, Forrest Creek 1852–53
lithograph
21.3 x 16.3 cm (sheet); 15.6 x 10.5 cm irreg. (comp.)
The University of Melbourne Art Collection
Gift of the Russell and Mab Grimwade Bequest 1973
1973.0354

Law and order

Governor Charles Joseph La Trobe followed the example of New South Wales and introduced a gold tax. Every digger had to buy a licence each month, for thirty shillings – the equivalent of half an ounce of gold.

The miner was required to carry the licence at all times and produce it on request. Failure to do so meant a heavy fine ranging from £5 to £30.

"We are subject to periodical unexpected requests to produce our diggers’ licences. As in every gully there are a number of men who have evaded taking out a licence, one is quite accustomed on these occasions to hear the signal passed along, giving warning of approaching police.

The latter usually arrive to the number of twelve to sixteen men, armed with bayonets, and headed by a mounted officer. They pass from one shaft to another to examine these licences.

On hearing of their approach many of the miners disappear rapidly into either mine, or into the bush, and so succeed in evading the law.

Those who are not so nimble, and are caught, are roped together in pairs and taken prisoner. I have seen as many as thirty or forty at a time, taken off like this. They are then imprisoned with robbers and criminals.

This method is causing a great deal of bad blood."

Diary of Eugène von Guérard, 15 April 1853.

Cited Tipping, M, An Artist on the Goldfields. The Diary of Eugène von Guérard, Victoria, 1982.

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