Historical information

Labour Day originates from the eight-hour day movement - eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest. On 21 April 1856 Stonemasons and building workers on building sites around Melbourne, Australia, stopped work and marched from the University of Melbourne to Parliament House to achieve an eight-hour day. Their direct action protest was a success, and they are noted as the first organised workers in the world to achieve an eight-hour day with no loss of pay, which subsequently inspired the celebration of Labour Day and May Day. (Wikipedia, 12 March 2019: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Australia#Labour_Day)

The eight-hours campaign ran contemporaneously in Ballarat.

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The Labour day parade is an annual event in Ballarat. All unions and individuals are welcome to attend. Ballarat Labour Day march is held at the same date as the Begonia Festival parade; inception of the Begonia Festival was several decades later in 1953.

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Photo 1

Labour Day march:
We are Union banner and AMIWU banner with people.

Photo 2

Labour Day march:
We are Union, Trades Hall, Free West Papua banners, Trades Hall ute, various individuals including Don Henderson, Jenny Beacham, Tracey Brown, Simon Hammersley, Moses, Ben Davison, Angela McCarthy, Eddie Beacham, Gary Carton, Bob Bassett, Colin Muir, et al.

Photo 3

Labour Day march:
We are Union, ANMF, Trades Hall banners, various individuals including Don Henderson, Jenny Beacham, Tracey Brown, Simon Hammersley, Moses, Ben Davison, Angela McCarthy, Eddie Beacham, Gary Carton, Bob Bassett, Colin Muir, Ron Woods et al.

Photo 4

Labour Day march:
Change the Rules and AMIWU banners, various persons including Chris Kelly, Angela McCarthy, Ross Kenna, et al.

Photo 5

Labour Day barbeque:
Various persons including Allen Townsend, Fred Ladiges, Cameron McIntyre, Judy Henderson, Don Henderson, Cameron Bannam, Janine Brownlee, Dave Brownlee, Bernie Constable, Ian Fullerton, Ben Davison, et al.

Photo 6

Labour Day barbeque group photograph:
Various persons including Moses, Emma Pritchard, Kamuda, Allen Townsend, Tess Marshall, Chris Kelly, Fred Ladiges, Ross Kenna, Ben Davison, Don Henderson, Judy Henderson, Gabriel Waldron, Cameron McIntyre, Orry Pilven, Lana Cormie, Bob Bassett, Clinton Bannam, Angela McCarthy, Tracey Brown, Ron Woods, Ian Fullerton, Colin Muir, et al.

Photo 7

Labour Day barbeque group photograph:
Various persons including Moses, Emma Pritchard, Kamuda, Allen Townsend, Tess Marshall, Chris Kelly, Fred Ladiges, Ross Kenna, Ben Davison, Don Henderson, Judy Henderson, Gabriel Waldron, Cameron McIntyre, Orry Pilven, Lana Cormie, Bob Bassett, Clinton Bannam, Angela McCarthy, Tracey Brown, Ron Woods, Ian Fullerton, Colin Muir, et al.

Photo 8

Labour Day March:
We are Union banner, various persons including Chris Kelly, Angela McCarthy, Clinton Bannam, Orrie and Gem Pilven, Janine Brownlee, et al.

Significance

Significant to the inception of the eight hour day, history of unions and campaigns in Australia and the current Change the Rules campaign.

Physical description

8 colour photographs; soft copy.