The Eureka Stockade gardens is the site set aside by the people of Ballarat East in the latter part of the 19th Century to acknowledge the Eureka Rebellion of 1854, an event that marks a significant step in the development of political and social democracy in Australia.

The clash at Eureka is a significant event in the nation's history and is ingrained in Australia's cultural fabric. The legend of Eureka has been immortalised in poetry, prose, music, theatre, film and art. The 'Eureka spirit' is commonly invoked as a synonym for democracy, the 'fair go' Australian-style, with the Eureka (or Southern Cross) flag as the symbol of that spirit.

The 12-acre Eureka Stockade gardens whilst the site of a defining Australian event, contains no visible relics of the Eureka Stockade or the battle. Long recognised as an important place for imagining and commemorating that event and its consequences, the site has also been put to a practical use as a local community recreation space in an urban area. Below ground lies the course of the Eureka gold lead and on the north western corner is the site of the Free Trade Hotel, key determinants of the battle scene and the Eureka Stockade. There is a strong possibility of buried archaeological deposits or relics associated with the battle, its participants, and related sites gives the Eureka Stockade gardens high archaeological significance.

The early reservation of the land as a gardens has meant that its archaeological potential has not been reduced by significant physical disturbance through urban development. The Eureka Stockade gardens is of outstanding historical significance because of its association with the Eureka Stockade and battle, an event that is part of our national experience. Most of the land comprising the gardens was set aside as a memorial place just 16 years after the battle. At that time it was considered to contain the greater portion, if not the whole, of the Stockade. Since then it has been a place to reflect on the events and their consequences. The land, any potential archaeological deposits and relics, and the various commemorative elements which trigger the public imagination are all of crucial to the significance to the place. The feature of earliest date is the gardens itself (1869), followed by the Eureka Stockade Monument (1884). The Monument's site was selected by community vote. The monument was one of the earliest substantial commemorative structures erected in Victoria and continues to be a focal point for Eureka anniversaries and protests

The gardens since 1854.

1855-69: Extensive mining on the Eureka Stockade site.

1869: Ballarat East Borough Council sought to determine the site of the stockade and, in commemoration, reserved the land believed to contain the greater portion, if not the entire site.

1884: A most vigorous attempt to locate the exact site of the Stockade occurred when a commemorative monument was proposed for the gardens. Several hundred old-timers gathered at Eureka Street and, after heated debate, agreed to disagree and voted on a compromise site in the south-east corner of the gardens.

"After the lapse of thirty years some difficulty was at first met with the identifying of the exact site of the Stockade, and the spot on which the monument is placed was chosen by the general agreement of many of the diggers and others who were either present at the encounter between the troopers and the insurgents, or were at the time familiar with the Stockade and its surroundings" History of Ballarat - W.B.Withers (Published 1887)

1885: The gardens were officially gazetted as the Eureka Stockade, under the control of Ballarat East Borough.

1891: Council erected a high picket fence around the gardens, carried out tree plantings and created Lake Elsworth (later filled in to make way for the swimming pool).

1912: Residents living in the vicinity formed the Eureka Stockade Memorial Committee, to assist in the improvement and protection of the reserve. (In 1986, it became the Eureka Stockade Memorial Park Committee until 2003.)

1912-1980s: Over this period, the gardens' boundaries were extended and additional features introduced, such as Lake Penhalluriack, a rotunda, nursery, tree plantings, formal gardens and paths, drinking fountain, small and large halls, memorial gates, swimming pool, caravan park, diorama, various recreational facilities, and 'life-sized' replica of the Stockade. (Several of these features no longer exist.)

1998-2004: The Eureka Centre, interpreting the events of 1854, was opened in 1998 and with its enormous Eureka sail, in the shape of a mining wind-sail, is itself a Ballarat landmark. Walking trails followingthe 1854 route of the government troops from their camp to the battleground, and the miners from Bakery Hill, both end at the Eureka Stockade gardens.

During 2004 to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Eureka Rebellion a number of initiatives were implemented by the Ballarat City Council with the assistance of the Victorian State Government to upgrade and improve the gardens. Extensive maintenance, tree planting and landscape works were carried out. Two new structures were added to the gardens. The first an interpretive artwork was commissioned. The steel sculpture titled “Eureka Circle” was designed and constructed by Dr Anton Hasell and is located at the corner of Eureka and Rodier Streets. The second addition is an exciting all abilities access adventure playground utilising elements of the Eureka story. The playground is located in the North-East section area of the gardens at the rear of The Eureka Centre.

The Eureka Stockade gardens provide a unique and historic setting in which to contemplate the events and significance of the Eureka Rebellion and its legacy for all Australians. The gardens also provide a venue for relaxation and enjoyment by the Ballarat community as well as being an important pilgrimage destination for both national and international visitors wishing to retrace the steps of their forbears associated with Eureka and the Ballarat goldfields.

In an official acknowledgement of its historical significance the Eureka Stockade gardens precinct was added to the National Heritage List on the 3rd December 2004.