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Great Meeting of Diggers : November 2013
Great Meeting of Diggers : November 2013

Photographs supplied by Nancy Alford

The sculpture at Lawson's Bridge gifted to the community by Rotary International commemorates the Great Meeting of Diggers in 1851.

Location

Address:Pyrenees Highway, Lawsons Bridge, entrance to Chewton, Chewton, 3451
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -37.082054
Long: 144.267889
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Sculpture
Monument Theme:Government
Sub-Theme:Dissent
Actual Event Start Date:15-December-1851
Actual Event End Date:15-December-1851
Designer:Geoff Hocking
Monument Manufacturer:Neil Tait (Fabrication)

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:2010
Front Inscription

Commemorating 'The Great Meeting of Diggers.`

On 15 December 1851 more than 10,000 diggers gathered near the Old Shepherd`s Hut and raised the Digger banner in portest at the Government Licence Fee on the Victorian goldfields.  This was the first of many agitations against unfair taxes on the diggings, culminating in the Battle of Eureka three years later.  

The banner shows the Digger`s arms (pick and shovel), the scales of justice; a bundle of sticks (Fasces) and the Kangaroo and Emu (Australia).

Gifted to the community by the Rotary Club

In celebration of their 75th Anniversary in Castlemaine in 2010. 

Designed by Geoff Hocking / Fabricated by Neil Tait
 

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au