alternatehistory.com

This idea is the basis for a series of books I am writing and is a family saga set in a alternate republic of Victoria. This TL is basic at this stage and gets into greater detail later on. Tips and criticisms welcome.

Enjoy.

1851: Colony of Victoria separates from New South Wales with Capt. Joseph La Trobe RN as governor. Gold is also discovered in Victoria at Clunes near Ballaarat, starting gold rush in colony.
In India Captain Thomas Mitchell resigns commission in Her Majesty's 79th Foot under a cloudconcerning a botched expedition on NW frontier. due to allegations of cowardice (untrue but given credence because his accuser is a viscount with friends at Horse Guards) he leaves for Australia.

1852: Thomas Mitchell arrives in Victoria and makes his way to the goldfields. On the road from Melbounre to Ballaarat the coach is bailed up by bushrangers aiming to ambush Gold escort. Ambush goes wrong and Mitchell helps to capture gang, leading to some celebrity status.

1852-53: Mitchell settles on field south of Ballaarat and strikes it rich. when Crimean War Breaks out in a burst of patriotism local district forms militia and Mitchell is elected captain, his experience in the Sikh wars makes him the obvious choice.

1854: Eureka Insurrection. I wont go into any details here save that Mitchell and bulk of his militia command are actually more sympathetic to the plight of the diggers who are being denied the basic rights of Englishmen and march to Ballaarat in support of the Miners Reform Leage.
The militia company of 51 men does not arrive in time to take the Oath but on hearing of the concentration of British troops, marches with all speed to Ballaarat and in a fateful decision Mitchell orders a night march on the evening of the 2nd December 1854.
Mitchell's company arrives just in time to catch Capt. Wise's assault in the flank. Attack is dislocated long enough for a Roll Up to be called and over 3,000 irate armed diggers descend on British camp and beseige duplicitous redcoats.

that's it for now, more when I get back.
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