# St Paul’s Cathedral

Source: https://ballaratreformleague.org.au/monuments/st-pauls-cathedral/

## cnr Flinders & Swanston Streets, Melbourne

*We were unable to place a monument here.*

There was shock and outrage among the general community in Melbourne on learning of the government’s actions and the lives lost at Eureka.

The reaction in Melbourne turned the diggers’ defeat into a victory.

Next Monument:

[The Star Hotel](https://ballaratreformleague.org.au/monuments/the-star-hotel/)

## distance to next monument

### 114km: Ballarat

### 114km: Bakery Hill

### 114km: Star Hotel

### 120km: Buninyong

### 123km: Castlemaine

### 124km: Creswick

### 126km: Chewton

### 157km: Bendigo

### 293km: Beechworth

An official meeting on the 5th December in support of Lieutenant Governor Hotham was taken over and resolutions were passed condemning the Government and calling for the immediate dismissal of Colonial Secretary Foster. On the same day the Legislative Council met and passed a motion, unanimously, approving the conduct of the troops.

On the 6th December a meeting of 6,000 gathered at St Paul’s Church and protested the actions of the government and the Ballarat authorities. The attack by the troops was described as illegal and murderous. One speaker described the day (6th December) as a ‘proud day for Victoria …the beginning of the history of the colony’. This meeting marked the emergence, at last, of the popular democratic movement. Hotham had placed 300 police, 100 gaol warders, 100 volunteers and all available marines in neighbouring streets and government buildings in case of riots.

Meanwhile the diggers were seething with resentment.

At the trial for treason on 23 February, the jury of Melbourne citizens, acquitted all the diggers and they became popular heroes. Before long the licence fee was abolished and diggers were given the vote.