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The history of the Ballarat Trades Hall building is interwoven in the story of Ballarat’s industrial and political labour movement. It is true that no organised labour movement existed at the time of the affair at Eureka, in December 1854, but the rebellion itself helped to create the atmosphere from which the labour movement developed only a few short years after. On Tuesday April 29th 1856 a meeting on Bakery Hill, where the Eureka Monster Meetings were held just over 12 months earlier, saw the formation of the Ballarat Eight Hour Committee with a resolution, “That this meeting, in endeavouring to shorten the hours of labor, do not at present interfere with the wages, but allow the same to be regulated as heretofore by supply and demand.” The last resolution was proposed and carried unanimously, “That a committee be appointed to carry out the objects of the meeting consisting of the following gentlemen, namely, Messrs Oddie, Allison, Evans, Greville, Ware, Lyons, Cathie, and Batten. After a few remarks from the chairman in favour of the working-men devoting their leisure hours after the introduction of the eight hours system to self-culture. The second concerted effort in Ballarat to obtain better working conditions occurred on 2nd of October 1856, when the Main Road shop assistants formed an association. The need for such an association is shown by the fact that the hours of work for the shop assistants were from 8am to 8pm till midnight on Saturdays. This reform movement was supported by many leading citizens, amongst them James Oddie who was known as the Father of Ballarat because of his many cultural bequests to the city. The general public helped the movement by boycotting shops that kept long hours and by 1863 all shops closed by 7pm weekdays and by 10pm Saturdays. The establishment of the 8hours day by the Operative Stone Masons in 1856 gave an impetus to the Trade Union Movement in the colony and the slogan “8hrs Work 8hrs Rest 8hrs Recreation” became established fact for the first time in the world. This event was rightly regarded as worthy of celebration and 8hr anniversary committees were formed throughout Victoria. Ballarat Trade Unionists, taking a prominent part in the industrial activity of the colony, formed a committee and the first 8hr procession was held in Ballarat at 2pm on April 21st, 1858. Flags and Banners were carried by the various organisations that marched and the function completed with a dinner at 5pm at the Clarendon Hotel, Lydiard Street. 8hr processions were held annually on or about the 21st April and became one of the leading events of the year. The first mention the need for a Trades Hall as a meeting place for the various trades was made in 1862, when Mr Harrison of the Carpenters Union moved at a meeting of the 8hr day committee “that a committee be formed with the view of raising funds for the purpose of building a Trades Hall in Ballarat and that the Government be approached to grant land for the erection of a building”. There reported to be a lapse of interest for a number of years subsequent to this and in 1880 the 8hr day Anniversary Committee decided to mark the establishment of the 8hrs day by erecting a monument to the memory of the pioneer of the 8hr movement in the colony, James Galloway. Members of the committee and the pioneers of the labour movement in Ballarat V Chedwick, J W Mills, J Valentine, J W Groan, W Williams. The campaign for the Galloway monument was so successful that one year later on April 21st, 1881, and after the longest 8hrs day procession to that date, the Mayor of the City, Councillor A T Morrison, embarred the monument at the foot of Sturt Street. An inscription on it states, “This monument is tended in trust to the City Council for the working men of Ballarat”. The Committee when formed consisted of Messrs J,Ballantyne, W Evans, J Brahm, Hyam, Luke, Serties, W Ballantyne, A Smith, Muir, Clynsdale, Anthony, Morrison, and Anderson, who all worked and raised a most substantial sum. Money was raised by Art Unions conducted in conjunction with the annual demonstrations. The successful tenders Messrs Lietch and Antrim and the amount expended was £3,000 at the time of the laying of the foundation stone. The officers of the Council were President Mr J Miller and H Bradbury, Treasurer W Evans and Secretary Mr T S Bailey. Within the name of the trustees provision had been made that if the Trades and Labour Council disbanded for any reason that the land be held in trust .In support of Mr Williams and the speakers were his worship the Mayor, Councillor Smith and Mr Howard, President of the Melbourne Trades Hall Council. At this time the Ballarat Trades and Labour Council formed its first Disputes Committee and after long negotiations between the Disputes committee and the management of Phoenix foundry conceded to the demand of their workers. This was the longest dispute that occurred in Ballarat at that time. The success of the campaign led to the resurrection of the idea of building the Trades Hall and the 8 hours committee with its Secretary J W Graham, decided to continue its activities and raise money for this purpose. The first site considered was in Bath Lane but this was rejected and a site in Armstrong Street near the City baths was examined and rendered subject to survey. For some reason not ascertainable this site was suddenly rejected and in 1886 the present site in Camp St was agreed on and land was granted to the committee in the name of the Ballarat Trades Hall and Literary Institute. The successful tender for the erection of the building at a cost of £2,128 - 15 shillings, was submitted by Messrs Lietch and Outtrim. The work of construction took a little over twelve months and the foundation stone of the building was laid on October 15th, 1887 by the President of the Trades and Labour Council, George Williams who was the son of an early Mayor of Ballarat. Also present at the ceremony were the Mayor of Ballarat, MLA’s Mr Vale, and Colonel Smith, Mr Smith President of the Melbourne Trades Hall Council and a large gathering representing the organised trades of the city were present. A comment from the Ballarat Courier on Monday October 17th, 1887 from the leading article read as follows; “The laying of the foundation stone at the Trades Hall in Camp Street marks the advance of trade unionism in this city.”