author
Raffaello Carboni
1817–1875
A restless Italian patriot, linguist, and traveler, he is best remembered for writing the classic eyewitness account of the Eureka Stockade in colonial Australia. His life moved through revolution, exile, goldfields, and music, giving his work an unusual firsthand energy.
1 Audiobook
The Eureka Stockade
by Raffaello Carboni
About the author
Born in Urbino on 15 December 1817, he studied in Italy and became involved in the movement for Italian independence. He spent parts of his life in exile, lived in London, and was known as a gifted linguist, writer, composer, and interpreter.
In 1852 he sailed to Australia during the gold rush. On the Ballarat goldfields he mixed with miners from many countries and became closely associated with the events around the Eureka Stockade. Although he was later tried for treason, he was acquitted, and his book The Eureka Stockade became the best-known eyewitness account of the uprising.
After his years in Australia, he returned to Europe and continued a life shaped by politics, travel, and the arts. He died in Rome on 24 October 1875, leaving behind a vivid record of one of the most famous moments in Australian history.