Eureka Flag remains in good condition after 170 years

Ballarat’s treasured Eureka Flag remains in a stable condition, according to a recent conservation assessment.

The iconic flag, which celebrated its 170th birthday late last year, underwent its regular annual assessment in March, which showed its condition remains unchanged.

ArtLab Senior Textiles Conservator Mary-Anne Gooden conducted the inspection, having played a major role in the flag’s extensive conservation treatment at ArtLab in Adelaide in 2010.  

With this intimate knowledge of the flag, Artlab is engaged to inspect its condition annually. The recent assessment was carried out at the Eureka Centre under strict controls.

Prior to the formal inspection, the flag’s display case was cleaned thoroughly to ensure no dust could enter when opening. This process involved a team of cleaners and electricians working under close supervision.  

Ms Gooden was then able to enter the case, complete the condition report, with some gentle removal of dust from the surface as required.  

The inspection determined the Eureka Flag is unchanged and remains in a stable condition.

City of Ballarat Deputy Mayor, Cr Ben Taylor said it was crucial the Eureka Flag remained protected for generations to come.

“The Eureka Flag is an important piece of history for Ballarat and democracy in our nation,” he said.

“After 170 years, preserving and caring for the flag is our duty to its history to ensure its values live on for generations.”

The Eureka Flag is listed as an object of significance on the Victorian Heritage Register and was declared a Victorian icon by the National Trust of Australia in 2006.  

It is part of the collection of the Art Gallery of Ballarat and is on long-term loan to the Eureka Centre in Ballarat where it is on public display.

Eureka Centre Manager Anthony Camm said the flag remained the centrepiece of the museum, which has experienced a recent surge in visitation numbers. In March 2025 it attracted 6145 people – its highest monthly visitation record.  

“The Eureka Flag is one of Australia’s great destination objects. It has a powerful allure and inspires deep feelings in the many people who come to pay their respects,” he said.

“Our visitors can have vastly competing and sometimes highly personal perspectives on the significance of the Eureka Stockade and the symbolic meaning of the flag.

“But what they all have in common is a deep reverence for the flag as a tangible connection to a foundational moment in Australia's national story – the 1854 Eureka Stockade.”

Art Gallery of Ballarat Director, Lousie Tegart highlighted the importance of regularly assessing the condition of the flag.

“The Art Gallery of Ballarat Collection is of national significance and the Eureka Flag is one of the highlights,” she said.

“We are committed to meeting best practice for the care and management of the collection and the annual check of the flag is part of ensuring that the collection is maintained for future generations.”

The Eureka Flag was first raised at a Ballarat Reform League meeting on November 29, 1854 at Bakery Hill.

It was then moved to the Eureka Stockade where it was flown until torn down after the Eureka Stockade battle on December 3, only five days later.

To learn more about the history of the Eureka Flag, visit the Eureka Centre website.