Spies for Resident Gold Commissioner, Robert Rede, report to him that the rebels have constructed a stockade at Eureka consisting of timbers whose original purpose was support poles for the mines. Within this stockade had assembled a band of rebel who declared that they would resist any further attempt to collect mining taxes.

The rebels, whilst fired with enthusiasm and bravado, are largely a disorganised bunch and little real preparation is made to organise their defences or to plan for an attack by the authorities.