Blood on the Wattle

Blood on the Wattle is an Australian play by Les Haylen about the Eureka Rebellion.

Haylen, who was an MP, started writing the play in 1944.

In 1946 it was announced the film rights to the play had been purchased and the movie would be made. However at the same time Ealing Studios announced plans to make its own version of the Eureka story and only that film eventuated.

The play was published in 1948, with a foreword by Prime Minister Ben Chifley. The book was attacked in Parliament by Liberal MP Howard Beale. Haylen wrote a long preface for the play in the style of George Bernard Shaw.

According to Leslie Rees, "Haylen’s chief merits are his dialogue, which has bite, colour, and swiftness, and can be acrid or humorous... and his etching of little characters. But the catalogue is too long; the cast numbers nearly sixty. Haylen is waylaid and confused by all these minor people. Hence, despite the strong feelings that everywhere pervade the play, he fails to come readily to grips with the main issues of the Eureka affair. He keeps on introducing new people instead of developing those already there.... Haylen’s play is good enough reading but would make uncertain playing." The play was never produced but because of Haylen's reputation and the fact it was published it had an impact.