Historical information

One of the first large goldfield meetings was at Castlemaine in 1851. After the extraordinary success of the Mt Alexander Diggings the Government issued a proclamation, raising the licence fee from thirty shillings to three pounds. As soon as these intentions became known a public meeting of miners was held. For miles around work ceased, with diggers travelling as far as Bendigo to attend the meeting. It is estimated that around 18,000 people attended the meeting.

The notes with the engraving state The trees in this locality are chiefly Stringybark; some of them are peeled of their covering, as many persons prefer erecting bark huts to living in a comfortless tent. The various groups, and costumes of the men, are characteristic of our gold digging community.


This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.

Physical description

Colour lithograph of a meeting of diggers at a meeting in Mt Alexander. The meeting was the result of goldfields agitations against the license fee.

Inscriptions & markings

lower centre "Great Meeting of Gold Diggers Dec 15th 1851"

lower left side "Drawn By D. Tulloch"

lower right side "Engraved by Thomas Ham"