A tiny fragment of the flag flown at the Eureka Stockade rebellion in 1854 has sold at auction for over $32,000.
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Melbourne auctioneers Mossgreen sold the piece of Prussian blue cloth on Monday for $32,240.
The new owners are the Victorian Trades Hall, who ran a crowd-funding campaign to purchase the piece of Australia’s history. The campaign raised over $20,000 toward the purchase.
Victorian Trades Hall secretary Luke Hilakari says the fragment will be safely kept at Trades Hall for the public to view.
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”It will be a proud day for Trades Hall next year when we have it on display,” Hilakari said in a Facebook video posted to the Trades Hall site.
“We’re going to encourage everyone to come and see it. Well done, comrades. Solidarity.”
Former owner Adrian Millane says he’s pleased the piece of flag will remain in public hands.
“I am very happy, moreso with WHO got it,” said Millane.
“I always hoped for a public body (to purchase it).
He says the sale will enable him to pursue the cause of an orphanage in India where he alleges sexual abuse took place.
“This trauma is tied to why I felt needed to sell it, to raise the profile of the severe issues of corruption preventing real child protection - and of course to have funds to support my pursuit of such reforms,” he said.