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Gx Webzine: Vol B Issue 7 August 2002
Volume B Issue 8 August 2002
Copyright 2002 Gx Webzine All Rights Rsvd.

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Interview: The Eureka Spirit
by Madison Knight


1AugEureka3.jpg
During the 1850s in Victoria, Australia, the Gold Rush was in full swing. People came from all around to make their fortune. It was only a matter of time before mining licences were introduced, miners' rights infringed upon, and the Eureka Stockade took place. In 1854, a battle between the miners and the government raged. It left death and devastation.900 meters away from where Montrose Cottage and the Eureka Museum now are situated. In the 1850s, it was a miner's cottage but today it preserves the Eureka story for future generations.

 

 

 


 

During the 1850s in Victoria, Australia, the Gold Rush was in full swing. People came from all around to make their fortune. And it was only a matter of time before mining licences were introduced, miners' rights infringed and the Eureka Stockade taking place. That is in 1854, a battle between the miners and the government raged. It left death and devastation. 900 meters away from where this battle was, Montrose Cottage and the Eureka Museum is situated. In the 1850s it was a miner's cottage but today it preserves the Eureka story for future generations.

Laurel Johnson is the owner of this unique museum which is heritage listed and is a multi award winning complex. As owner and author of 'Women of Eureka' she hopes to instill some sense of what the battle and the ‘Eureka Spirit' was all about and what it holds for the future.

MK: To what extent has Montrose Cottage and Eureka Museum preserved the history of the Eureka Stockade?

LJ: Montrose Cottage and Eureka Museum preserve the history of Eureka with stories of the people supported by photographs, letters, diary entries and artifacts, enthusiastically put on loan to the museum by direct descendants, the 'Children of Eureka', including significant artifacts.

MK: How did you become involved in Montrose Cottage and the Eureka Museum?

LJ: It was 18 years ago. We had our own business (Furniture Factory) in a large theme park in Ballarat. My husband is a cabinet-maker and wood-turner. He demonstrated his skills to the visitors, manufacturing furniture that reflected the 1850-60s in local, Australian and exotic timber. I was a district nurse and had experienced a very bad car accident whilst traveling about on my country run. As a result of this, I was not able to return to my nursing.

One balmy day on a February morning, we visited Montrose Cottage as tourists. We were given a tour of the complex and just happened to mention to the proprietors how much we loved the place, and the owner said: ‘Why don't you buy it, I am going to the real estate agent this afternoon.' WELL!!

We moved into the business the following November. The strange thing was that the Tartan for ‘Montrose' is the ‘Graham Tartan' and the pin worn with this tartan is the ‘Laurel leaf'. My husband is Graeme and I am Laurel, that definitely was a 'sign' to be considered!!!

We ran both businesses for a few years and now Graeme works from here (Montrose)...its nice to be now working under the one roof!

MK: What do you see as your goal and duties involved in running this complex?

LJ: To continue to build and develop the business as a National Treasure, through sustained professional management practices and policies.

Also to maintain our integrity as a museum, whereby we acquire, conserve, research, communicate and exhibit for the purpose of study, education and enjoyment, material pertinent to the history of Montrose Cottage and the environments of the Eureka Stockade.

Hence our objectives are to inform, entertain and involve our visitors without compromising our historical integrity, to achieve our highest standards of customer service in all aspects of our work, to maintain visitation and revenue at levels necessary to function as a business and maintain our links with involvement in Ballarat, Eureka and Goldfields region. But the main objectives are to tell the full story of Eureka and what it means to us today and to protect the cottage for future generations.

MK: What led you to write 'Women of Eureka'?

LJ: It was the 140th Anniversary of the Eureka Rebellion and I wanted so much to gather a collection of the 'Women on the Goldfields'...this had not really been done. Although the ratio of women to men was 1-4 at one stage during the 1850s, the effort to collect stories from these families seemed just too great.

One night in my dreams a 'little voice' said why not do the 'Women of Eureka'…this was much more hand able!!

One of the largest newspapers in the country gave almost a third page editorial to assist in finding direct descendants.

A letter went out to all the 'Children of Eureka', the response was overwhelming and so the book was written, the stories became part of the new exhibition presented at the Eureka Museum where we endeavor to relate the stories as they were handed down to us, including the part played by the 'Women of Eureka'. As Sentinels of Sobriety and Proclaimers of Peace, the 'Women of Eureka', give a Soul to Eureka. The stories help us analyze the trials, tribulations and tenacity experienced during the devastation of the battle and discover how they all felt about Eureka, their involvement in it and what happened to them after.

MK: What insight can the Eureka Museum bring to visitors about the Eureka Stockade?

LJ: The Museum is just that…a Museum, in the most heritage and cultural sense, presenting the social history of early Ballarat and Australian goldfields. Original stories and artifacts of the Eureka Rebellion are an integral part of the exhibition.

Some artifacts within the Exhibition have been kindly 'put on Loan by direct descendants of the Eureka Rebellion'. Peter Lalor's original Eureka Sword, (a central relic of the Eureka Rebellion) including the Scobie Headstone and original weapons used at the time of the rebellion.

MK: Describe the facilities of Montrose Cottage?

LJ: Montrose Cottage is 'the last original miners bluestone cottage'. Stonemason, John Alexander, and his family of ‘Montrose', Scotland, arrived on the Ballarat goldfields in 1853, to actively prospect for gold, during the time of the Eureka Rebellion, 1854.

The Alexanders were fortunate in their endeavors to find gold. Purchasing land with their new-found wealth, they built the first miner's bluestone cottage on the diggings.

When you enter Montrose Cottage you can feel the ‘Eureka spirit' as the cottage and museum lay out the incredible history of the era including a kaleidoscope of great Australian achievers.

It is not hard to imagine the clanging of pots over the open fire, an aroma of baking bread from the hot oven, and laughter of happy children around the kitchen table, amongst the ‘cradles, cast iron, calico and lace'.

This tiny but beautifully proportioned cottage provides a window into the life of a middle class family on the Ballarat goldfields.

Restored with original artifacts ‘Montrose' is beautifully authentic and alive with color, fragrance and friendly people.

On entrance to the complex, there is a free copy of the history and a free guided tour. There is also a cottage garden, wheel chair access and the Museum Gift shop...cottage industry manufactured on site: wood turnings in Australian and exotic timbers and a laboratory where natural treatments are prepared and mail ordered globally.

MK: Do you believe winning the Australian Tourism Awards 2000, Victorian Goldfields Tourism Awards in 1998 and 1999 brought additional recognition to the complex?

LJ: To participate is highly worthwhile. It is not an issue to win, although winning awards has a great impact on the business. Recognition from within the industry stimulates impact from within the media, with extensive editorials that small budgets like ours could never presume to be able to fund.

It helps your marketing, promotion or advertising campaigns by highlighting an awareness of the best return on promotions and achieve competitive advantages and the customer realizes your commitment to quality...word of mouth. Satisfied customers tell prospective customers how good you are.

MK: What are some upcoming attractions?

LJ: "The Golden years of Lighting", with original examples from 5th and 7th century BC to the late 1800s...magnificent banquet lamps in all the kaleidoscope of color that was available at that time. The glass utilized in these lamps was made from gold, cobalt, uranium, very toxic substances to work with. The men who made this glass died very young but left behind them a magnificent legacy.

The Chinese on the Goldfields. This is another amazing story in its own right.

Because we offer free tours to our visitors this has resulted in the discovery that nearly all our visitors know there was a battle (the Eureka Rebellion) and what led up to it and the reason it occurred. No one really knows today what it has done for us or why it is so important to us as Australians.

Our newest exhibition will be a development on Eureka: The Nations of Eureka Eureka, Multi Cultural and Democracy... a contribution to knowledge shaping an understanding of our national identity.

It will represent what Eureka means to us today with original Eureka artifacts including profiles of extraordinary people and the flags of the 16 Nations of Eureka.

As a major exhibit, the Australian Multi Cultural Democratic Charter... donated to the museum by the great, great, grandson of Peter Lalor…commander in chief of the diggers. As only one of three on public display in the world today.

The Eureka Sword...a significant Australian artifact. ‘The Eureka Stockade': by Rafaello Carboni... the first book written 1855. Time lines leading up to and following the Eureka battle. Detailed maps to show: where Eureka is believed to have really happened 'The 24 Women of Eureka'.


    
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