Adelaide, Grote Street / Trades Hall a symbol of Labour unity, erected 1895–1896 and demolished 1972, South Australia
Image reference: State Library of South Australia B2110.
Trades Hall was erected in Grote Street 1895–1896 and demolished in 1972 when the new Trades Hall was completed on South Terrace, Adelaide.
In Grote Street the first sod was turned on 30 July 1895, by Mr P Stokes. The foundation stone was laid on Eight Hours Day 2 September 1895 by Lucy Kingston, wife of the Premier (Mr Kingston). The opening ceremony took place on 14 March 1896.
The Price Memorial Wing (honouring the Premier Tom Price) was opened by Mrs Price 21 March 1914.
*The opening of the splendid new Trades Hall, Adelaide, SA was celebrated on Saturday, March 14th. During the afternoon the building was thrown open for inspection, and crowds of persons availed themselves of the opportunity of thoroughly examining the future home of trades unionism in South Australia. The general verdict was one of complete satisfaction and commendation.
Between 7 and 8 pm the Riverside Brass Band rendered varied and appropriate selections of music on the balcony of the new structure. Mr Cox the bandmaster, and his men had the satisfaction of pleasing their large open-air congregation.
At 8 sharp a concert was begun in the fine hall on the top floor of the building. The attendance was good, and receipts were satisfactory.
At this juncture, in response to loud and frequent demands, Mr Kingston, the Premier, ascended the platform from his seat in the audience, and delivered a short out effective and sympathetic address.
Early in the evening Mr T Price MP, chairman of the building committee, delivered a short address and then handed over the key of the hall to the Hon W A Robinson, chairman of the managing committee. Mr Robinson made a brief speech in reply.
Mr Price, during his speech stated that the principal credit for bringing about the building was due to the secretary, Mr McPherson MP, for he had worked incessantly in face of all obstacles. [Ref: Worker (Brisbane, Qld) Saturday 28 March 1896]
*Adelaide Trades Hall 50 Years Old
Establishment Aided by Labour's Opponents
Symbol of Labour unity and of the right of workers to organise trade unions, the Adelaide Trades Hall will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its opening tomorrow. A notable feature of its establishment was that it was largely financed by men who were inherently opposed to Labour's aspirations.
Sympathetic co-operation given half a century ago by men opposed to Labour in the establishment of the hall may seem to some people today to be a contradiction. Nevertheless it was typical of the friendly spirit, which, except for some dark patches, has marked South Australian employer-employee relations over the years and which has given the State a reputation for industrial peace second to none in Australia.
The movement to build the hall was born in the eighties with the establishment of the Trades and Labour Council. It was a period marked by intense loyalty to the Labour cause.
The first meeting of the council was held on January 31, 1884, in the Bristol Tavern. The Sir John Barleycorn Hotel was the next meeting place and later the Selborne Hotel.
There was a growing feeling that a hotel was not a fitting meeting place for an organisation of such importance, and as a result, a decision was made to approach the Government for a site for a Trades Hall. This provoked a loud and heated controversy which raged over the next few years.
A request for a site was made in March, 1886, to the Downer Government, which rejected it on the ground of financial stringency. The second request, made to the Playford Government in August 1887, was also refused. The reason given on this occasion was that no land was available.
In August 1889 however, the Cockburn Government introduced a Bill to authorise the granting of a site, with a 50 ft frontage, next to the Local Court. The measure passed the Assembly, but was defeated in the Legislative Council. Its rejection followed an offer made by Sir (then Mr) R C Baker to collect £1,000 for the purchase of a site if the Bill were not proceeded with.
Two years later, Mr T H Brooker moved in the Assembly in favour of the Government granting a site. The motion was amended to read that the land should be provided "for the purpose of erecting a Conciliation Hall for the common use of workmen and their employers”, and it was then carried.
The proposal was overwhelmingly rejected by the unions.
Mr Brooker was persistent, and in 1892 he again submitted his motion, this time with the Government's support. The proposal was adopted by the Assembly after a spirited debate, during which Mr Castine made a marathon all-night stonewalling speech in an effort to prevent the passage of the motion. He spoke for more than seven hours.
A similar motion was lost in the Legislative Council later in the session Mr Baker, who, in the meantime, had collected £735 of the £1,000 he had promised to raise, again opposed the motion, saying that the money had been obtained to dissuade the Labour authorities from pressing the Government further for a site. Later Mr Baker collected another £141.
Contributors included Sir E T Smith, Messrs J H Angas, W K Simms, W A Horn, and Mr G C Hawker (£l00 each). Messrs J Darling, W A E West, D Murray and R C Baker (£50 each).
In 1893 the Ministry stated that the Government would make the necessary grant for the purchase of a site as soon as the Legislative Council was prepared to sanction the proposal.
The unions had by now, however, given up hope of obtaining Government aid. Early in 1895 the Trades and Labour Council began a movement to erect the hall with funds, the nucleus of which was provided from balances left over from the annual Eight-hour Day demonstrations.
The aid of the Eight Hours Celebration Union was enlisted, and a joint committee was set up. Money in hand amounted to more than £2.000. The Grote street site next to the Rechabite Hall was purchased for £1000 [sic]. Mr T H Smeaton was appointed architect.
The first sod was turned on July 30, 1895, by Mr P Stokes. The foundation stone was laid on Eight Hours Day (September 2) by the Premier (Mr Kingston).
The opening ceremony took place on March 14, 1896. Mr Kingston, speaking at the opening, expressed a hope that the hall would be utilised for the "promulgation of sound democratic and liberal ideals”.
The cost of the land and building was £6,188, and of furnishings £222. In September 1896, a block of land with a frontage of 31 ft to Morialta street was bought with the help of the Port Adelaide Working Men's Association.
A notable event in the history of the hall occurred a little later. This was a gift of £2,300 by Mr R Barr Smith to pay off the £2,000 debt on the building and to effect improvements. He expressed a wish that the hall should not again be mortgaged.
To mark the great service given to Labour by the State's first Labour Premier (Mr Tom Price), a fund was opened to raise £2,000 for additional accommodation at the hall, to be called the Price Memorial Wing This was opened by Mrs Price on March 21. 1914.
The Trades Hall has continued to progress, although it suffered a black period during the depression years of the early 1930's.
With most of their members out of work, some unions were unable to keep up their rent payments, and, as a result, the upkeep of the hall suffered.
However, with the passing of the depression, Labour began to close up its ranks. Firm action was taken against disruptive influences. Union funds began to swell again as jobs became more plentiful.
The Centenary year saw the most spectacular Labour Day procession in the history of the movement.
Tenants became increasingly dissatisfied with the dilapidated state of the hall. A number of suggestions were put forward, but the first definite move was made by the Vehicle Builders Employees' Union, which was responsible for calling a conference of unions to discuss the situation.
The conference was held, and as a result of the discussions and financial aid given by a number of unions, renovations to the building at a cost of nearly £2,000 were undertaken.
One of the main driving forces behind this effort was the late Mr Fred James, then secretary of the Meat Industry Employees' Union and president of the Trades Hall Management Committee. His right hand man was Mr Shard MP, who took over the secretaryship of the committee in January 1940.
A drive followed to clear the Trades Hall of debt. This is being actively prosecuted by the present committee. The overdraft has been reduced from £2,681 at December 31, 1939 to less than £500 at the end of last year. The committee hopes to announce the liquidation of the remaining £500 at the Jubilee banquet to be held at the Trades Hall tomorrow night
Surviving pioneer members who attended the opening ceremony 50 years ago have not been forgotten. Those whom the committee have been able to trace include Messrs A G Darby, F J Sparshott and W C Teakle. They will be given an honoured place at the banquet table.
[Ref: Advertiser (Adelaide) Wednesday 13 March 1946]
Trades
Adelaide, Grote Street / Trades Hall a symbol of Labour unity, erected 1895–1896 and demolished 1972, South Australia
Image reference: State Library of South Australia B2110.
Trades Hall was erected in Grote Street 1895–1896 and demolished in 1972 when the new Trades Hall was completed on South Terrace, Adelaide.
In Grote Street the first sod was turned on 30 July 1895, by Mr P Stokes. The foundation stone was laid on Eight Hours Day 2 September 1895 by Lucy Kingston, wife of the Premier (Mr Kingston). The opening ceremony took place on 14 March 1896.
The Price Memorial Wing (honouring the Premier Tom Price) was opened by Mrs Price 21 March 1914.
*The opening of the splendid new Trades Hall, Adelaide, SA was celebrated on Saturday, March 14th. During the afternoon the building was thrown open for inspection, and crowds of persons availed themselves of the opportunity of thoroughly examining the future home of trades unionism in South Australia. The general verdict was one of complete satisfaction and commendation.
Between 7 and 8 pm the Riverside Brass Band rendered varied and appropriate selections of music on the balcony of the new structure. Mr Cox the bandmaster, and his men had the satisfaction of pleasing their large open-air congregation.
At 8 sharp a concert was begun in the fine hall on the top floor of the building. The attendance was good, and receipts were satisfactory.
At this juncture, in response to loud and frequent demands, Mr Kingston, the Premier, ascended the platform from his seat in the audience, and delivered a short out effective and sympathetic address.
Early in the evening Mr T Price MP, chairman of the building committee, delivered a short address and then handed over the key of the hall to the Hon W A Robinson, chairman of the managing committee. Mr Robinson made a brief speech in reply.
Mr Price, during his speech stated that the principal credit for bringing about the building was due to the secretary, Mr McPherson MP, for he had worked incessantly in face of all obstacles. [Ref: Worker (Brisbane, Qld) Saturday 28 March 1896]
*Adelaide Trades Hall 50 Years Old
Establishment Aided by Labour's Opponents
Symbol of Labour unity and of the right of workers to organise trade unions, the Adelaide Trades Hall will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its opening tomorrow. A notable feature of its establishment was that it was largely financed by men who were inherently opposed to Labour's aspirations.
Sympathetic co-operation given half a century ago by men opposed to Labour in the establishment of the hall may seem to some people today to be a contradiction. Nevertheless it was typical of the friendly spirit, which, except for some dark patches, has marked South Australian employer-employee relations over the years and which has given the State a reputation for industrial peace second to none in Australia.
The movement to build the hall was born in the eighties with the establishment of the Trades and Labour Council. It was a period marked by intense loyalty to the Labour cause.
The first meeting of the council was held on January 31, 1884, in the Bristol Tavern. The Sir John Barleycorn Hotel was the next meeting place and later the Selborne Hotel.
There was a growing feeling that a hotel was not a fitting meeting place for an organisation of such importance, and as a result, a decision was made to approach the Government for a site for a Trades Hall. This provoked a loud and heated controversy which raged over the next few years.
A request for a site was made in March, 1886, to the Downer Government, which rejected it on the ground of financial stringency. The second request, made to the Playford Government in August 1887, was also refused. The reason given on this occasion was that no land was available.
In August 1889 however, the Cockburn Government introduced a Bill to authorise the granting of a site, with a 50 ft frontage, next to the Local Court. The measure passed the Assembly, but was defeated in the Legislative Council. Its rejection followed an offer made by Sir (then Mr) R C Baker to collect £1,000 for the purchase of a site if the Bill were not proceeded with.
Two years later, Mr T H Brooker moved in the Assembly in favour of the Government granting a site. The motion was amended to read that the land should be provided "for the purpose of erecting a Conciliation Hall for the common use of workmen and their employers”, and it was then carried.
The proposal was overwhelmingly rejected by the unions.
Mr Brooker was persistent, and in 1892 he again submitted his motion, this time with the Government's support. The proposal was adopted by the Assembly after a spirited debate, during which Mr Castine made a marathon all-night stonewalling speech in an effort to prevent the passage of the motion. He spoke for more than seven hours.
A similar motion was lost in the Legislative Council later in the session Mr Baker, who, in the meantime, had collected £735 of the £1,000 he had promised to raise, again opposed the motion, saying that the money had been obtained to dissuade the Labour authorities from pressing the Government further for a site. Later Mr Baker collected another £141.
Contributors included Sir E T Smith, Messrs J H Angas, W K Simms, W A Horn, and Mr G C Hawker (£l00 each). Messrs J Darling, W A E West, D Murray and R C Baker (£50 each).
In 1893 the Ministry stated that the Government would make the necessary grant for the purchase of a site as soon as the Legislative Council was prepared to sanction the proposal.
The unions had by now, however, given up hope of obtaining Government aid. Early in 1895 the Trades and Labour Council began a movement to erect the hall with funds, the nucleus of which was provided from balances left over from the annual Eight-hour Day demonstrations.
The aid of the Eight Hours Celebration Union was enlisted, and a joint committee was set up. Money in hand amounted to more than £2.000. The Grote street site next to the Rechabite Hall was purchased for £1000 [sic]. Mr T H Smeaton was appointed architect.
The first sod was turned on July 30, 1895, by Mr P Stokes. The foundation stone was laid on Eight Hours Day (September 2) by the Premier (Mr Kingston).
The opening ceremony took place on March 14, 1896. Mr Kingston, speaking at the opening, expressed a hope that the hall would be utilised for the "promulgation of sound democratic and liberal ideals”.
The cost of the land and building was £6,188, and of furnishings £222. In September 1896, a block of land with a frontage of 31 ft to Morialta street was bought with the help of the Port Adelaide Working Men's Association.
A notable event in the history of the hall occurred a little later. This was a gift of £2,300 by Mr R Barr Smith to pay off the £2,000 debt on the building and to effect improvements. He expressed a wish that the hall should not again be mortgaged.
To mark the great service given to Labour by the State's first Labour Premier (Mr Tom Price), a fund was opened to raise £2,000 for additional accommodation at the hall, to be called the Price Memorial Wing This was opened by Mrs Price on March 21. 1914.
The Trades Hall has continued to progress, although it suffered a black period during the depression years of the early 1930's.
With most of their members out of work, some unions were unable to keep up their rent payments, and, as a result, the upkeep of the hall suffered.
However, with the passing of the depression, Labour began to close up its ranks. Firm action was taken against disruptive influences. Union funds began to swell again as jobs became more plentiful.
The Centenary year saw the most spectacular Labour Day procession in the history of the movement.
Tenants became increasingly dissatisfied with the dilapidated state of the hall. A number of suggestions were put forward, but the first definite move was made by the Vehicle Builders Employees' Union, which was responsible for calling a conference of unions to discuss the situation.
The conference was held, and as a result of the discussions and financial aid given by a number of unions, renovations to the building at a cost of nearly £2,000 were undertaken.
One of the main driving forces behind this effort was the late Mr Fred James, then secretary of the Meat Industry Employees' Union and president of the Trades Hall Management Committee. His right hand man was Mr Shard MP, who took over the secretaryship of the committee in January 1940.
A drive followed to clear the Trades Hall of debt. This is being actively prosecuted by the present committee. The overdraft has been reduced from £2,681 at December 31, 1939 to less than £500 at the end of last year. The committee hopes to announce the liquidation of the remaining £500 at the Jubilee banquet to be held at the Trades Hall tomorrow night
Surviving pioneer members who attended the opening ceremony 50 years ago have not been forgotten. Those whom the committee have been able to trace include Messrs A G Darby, F J Sparshott and W C Teakle. They will be given an honoured place at the banquet table.
[Ref: Advertiser (Adelaide) Wednesday 13 March 1946]
Trades