The Burning of the Eureka hotel

In their fury, the miners decided to get revenge by burning down the Eureka Hotel. They burnt the hotel down on the 17th of October 1854, one day after James Bentley had written to the government concerned that the miners were going to take revenge. Government employees watched as the hotel burnt down, not providing any assistance. James Bentley survived the fire and fled with his wife, Catherine. Three miners were jailed and others were fined for their parts in the fire.

The Eureka story

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