Staking a claim : gold and the development of Victorian mining law by Ralph W. Birrell

Victoria's mining Law is unique in the world. From the discovery of gold in 1851 up to the present day, it has adapted, in an extraordinarily successful way, both the changing technology and changing social attitudes. The Eureka Stockade marked a crucial first step in the creation of equitable and workable mining legislation Victoria. The miners themselves, the judges and the legislators all showed remarkable creativity and adaptability in developing these laws. They were so successful that other colonies copied and modified them to suit their own local conditions. The author's engaging and comprehensive book tells for the first time the full story of the development of mining law in Victoria. Accompanied by a remarkable selection fascinating historical illustrations, it is a long overdue work of great authority, born of a lifetime's immersion in the field.

Hardback with dust jacket, new, Melbourne University (January 1998), 228 pages