Lambing Flat Museum

The "Roll Up" Banner was carried during the riots of 1861, where European miners on the Lambing Flat goldfields rose up against the Chinese miners and drove them from the diggings. This uprising later led to the introduction of the White Australia Policy.

A brief history: A report that 1500 Chinese had landed in Sydney bound for Burrangong in mid June stirred the Diggers to unrest, and with no troops stationed at Lambing Flat, the miners rang out the goldfield call 'roll up', following which on the last Sunday in June, 1861 occurred the greatest riots which made the hills of Burrangong ring from end to end and the echos to resound throughout Australia. Three thousand rolled up to move the Chinese off the field. A militant mob took the proceedings out of the hands of the leaders. At ten o'clock in the morning miners assembled at "All and Ale" at Tipperary Gully and, headed by a brass band, began the march to the Flat. Two men carried a hand worked banner having a white cross in the centre on a ground of blue surrounded with stars and scrolls reading "NO CHINESE - ROLL UP, ROLL UP". The banner was trimmed with lace and tied with red and green ribbon and has become legendary in the annals of Lambing Flat (Young). On reaching the Flat, the procession made for the Chinese camp. The mob set upon the Chinese, handling them roughly whilst their pigtails were cut off. Their tents, clothing and furniture were set afire and their mining implements destroyed. The procession moved on to Back Creek, five miles farther on, to the Chinese camp, again causing much damage. The "Miner", the Flat's newspaper, estimated the value of property destroyed at 3000 pounds. When all had been destroyed, the band formed up and the procession headed for home. The lace and ribbons are gone, but here is the "flag" painted over 130 years ago and one of the oldest flags in the history of Australia.