By David Estcourt
Ballarat’s traders shut their doors, hired extra security and set up barriers as thousands of ‘freedom’ protesters descended on the city on Sunday for a peaceful “Eureka” demonstration.
Police estimated about 1000 protesters marched through the streets of the regional city, loudly decrying vaccine mandates and comparing their struggle to the Eureka rebellion there 167 years ago.
Protesters marched from Ballarat’s Civic Hall to Bakery Hill and then the skate park.Credit:Paul Jeffers
Demonstrators ascended to historic Bakery Hill, the hub of the former Ballarat goldfields and site of cultural significance for the Eureka protests, the anniversary of which was supposed to be celebrated by the city this weekend but was delayed by the City of Ballarat.
Instead, authorities recommended CBD businesses in areas affected by the protests shut their doors on an expected busy Sunday.
Business owners who did close their doors were abused on social media, with the operators of a plant shop just around the corner from the rally receiving messages criticising their decision to close.
Operators of The Sporting Globe Bar and Grill declined to comment publicly, but had retained two additional security guards for the duration of the march. Some business owners, fearing they would be targeted by protesters, did not wish to speak with The Age.
Road workers were also putting up traffic cones and barricades, and being directed by police to shut down areas of the city, so demonstrators could proceed safely without traffic.
Commerce Ballarat chief executive Jodie Gillett said local businesses were exhausted by the past two years and protest activity like the demonstrations on Sunday would only serve to exacerbate that stress.
“It is critical that they are able to trade at the highest level possible. Especially in the lead-up to Christmas, the closure of the CBD is certainly not helpful,” she said.
“It is important to keep reminding ourselves that they will be in recovery mode after COVID for years not months.”
Taylor McKnight of Mitchell Harris Wines in Ballarat Central expressed concern about how ‘Freedom’ protesters would affect business.Credit:Paul Jeffers
Mitchell Harris Wines manager Taylor McKnight said a few unvaccinated demonstrators attempted to have a beer after the protest, but they were turned away. Other businesses contacted by The Age also did not report any significant issues with protesters.
The City of Ballarat on Thursday postponed a series of events that were due to be held to mark the 167th anniversary of the Eureka rebellion.
Brett Edgington, secretary of the Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council, said it was “bitterly disappointing” to see the anti-vaccine mandate movement co-opt the spirit of the Eureka rebellion.
Demonstrators in Ballarat on Sunday.Credit:Paul Jeffers
“The Eureka legacy is about standing together for the right to be able to have a say on the laws that govern people, and the right for working people to stand for Parliament,” he said outside Ballarat’s Trades Hall.
“Ballarat is proudly a town that is over 95 per cent double vaccinated ... (residents) understand that with freedom comes responsibility.
“The vast, vast majority of Ballarat residents do not want this crew here today from Melbourne.”
Police deployed a significant number of officers for the duration of the demonstration and as of 5pm had not made any arrests.
Former Liberal MP and leader of the United Australia Party Craig Kelly told the crowd that he would work to oppose Premier Daniel Andrews’ pandemic legislation at next year’s state election.
On Saturday, the group gathered in Treasury Gardens before marching through Melbourne’s city centre to occupy the intersection in front of Flinders Street Station, while another smaller counter-demonstration took place in Carlton with attendees in the hundreds.
‘Freedom’ protesters are gathering in numbers with police at Civic Hall in Ballarat.Credit:Paul Jeffers
There have been many anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne over the past 18 months, but the pandemic legislation has galvanised the “freedom” movement over the past six weeks, bringing tens of thousands out for mass weekend protests.
With Ashleigh McMillan
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2021-12-05 05:44:25Z
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