57 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
57 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
The **Darwin Rebellion** was a period of massive unrest in Darwin,
|
|
[Australia](Australia "wikilink") in
|
|
[1918](Timeline_of_Libertarian_Socialism_in_Oceania "wikilink").
|
|
|
|
## Background
|
|
|
|
The Northern Territory had lost all voting rights in the Australian
|
|
government in 1911, the price of beer had jumped 30% in the 1910s, the
|
|
region became economically depressed as people lost jobs due to
|
|
industries shutting down and the insulting and condescending nature of
|
|
the premier, Dr Gilruth.\[1\]
|
|
|
|
## Events
|
|
|
|
On the afternoon of the 17th of December 1918, workers' across the city
|
|
went on strike and 1,000 of them (Darwin had 1,339 people) walked to
|
|
government house, demanding "no taxation without representation"
|
|
(echoing the [American Revolution](American_Revolution "wikilink"))
|
|
behind a car carrying an effigy of Gilruth tied to a stake and calling
|
|
for his resignation and greater democratic rights in the Northern
|
|
Territory.
|
|
|
|
Dr Gilruth said that he would not and did not recognise the citizens of
|
|
Darwin as having any authority over him. The crowd outside became tense
|
|
and impatient. Part of the picket fence around Government House
|
|
collapsed and union leader Harold Nelson reportedly called out "over the
|
|
fence boys". The crowd advanced across the garden into Government House.
|
|
For a few moments, Gilruth was assaulted as he attempted to flee into
|
|
the residence. Windows were broken and the wire netting removed from the
|
|
tennis court.
|
|
|
|
Eventually, the crowd dispersed, but not before they carried Gilruth's
|
|
effigy to the front gate of Government House, soaked it in kerosene and
|
|
set it alight. The Government was alarmed, and within a week of the
|
|
incident the navy ship HMAS *Una* arrived to protect Dr Gilruth, and he
|
|
left for Melbourne, ending the rebellion.\[2\]
|
|
|
|
## Results
|
|
|
|
The rebellion led to greater democratic rights for the Northern
|
|
Territory.
|
|
|
|
## See Also
|
|
|
|
- [Australian General
|
|
Strike](Australian_General_Strike_\(1917\) "wikilink")
|
|
- [Eureka Rebellion](Eureka_Rebellion "wikilink")
|
|
|
|
## References
|
|
|
|
<references />
|
|
|
|
1. [What was the Darwin
|
|
rebellion?](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-12/curious-darwin-what-was-the-darwin-rebellion/9200424)
|
|
- ABC
|
|
2. [Wikipedia](Wikipedia "wikilink") -
|
|
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_rebellion#Rebellion> |