A group of anarchists commemorated that spirit yesterday as part of a traditional march through Ballarat to mark the anniversary of the miners' rebellion.

As part of the Reclaim the Radical Spirit of the Eureka Rebellion tradition, about 80 protestors attended a dawn ceremony at the site of the rebellion at 4am yesterday.

There, an effigy of senior Australan defence figure Major General Michael Krause was burned a symbol of the refusal to be dominated by government law.

The group then marched in the middle of the road to Bakery Hill, where it presented people with its own version of Australia Day medals, before walking up Sturt Street to raise the Eureka Flag at the Ballarat Town Hall.

Councillor Samantha McIntosh raised the flag and said it belonged to everybody.

"It's about people, and that fighting for their rights was what they believed in," she said.

At times traffic was banked up behind the protesters, who took over a lane of Sturt Street.

From the Town Hall the 40-strong group walked to the Old Ballarat Cemetery to pay their respects to the miners who died in the rebellion, before visiting the Art Gallery of Ballarat to view the Eureka Flag.

Convenor and leader of the march Joseph Toscano said it was important that Ballarat properly remembered the rebellion and paid respect.

"We think that Ballarat has forgotten a lot about what happened back in 1854," he said.

"Most people watching our march probably wouldn't even know what it was about. It's important we keep the spirit alive and remind people about what happened."

The commemoration finished with a dinner last night at the Eureka Stockade Hotel.