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Australian Labour Federation MemorialPrint Page Print this page

13-May-2019 (Sandra Brown)
13-May-2019 (Sandra Brown)

Photographs supplied by Diane Watson / Sandra Brown / John Huth

The Australian Labour Federation Memorial commemorates the first meeting of the first shearers union, which later became the Australian Labor Party.

Despite its title the Australian Labour Federation (A.L.F.) remained, despite the brief affiliation of the Sydney Trades and Labour Council in the mid-1890s, a distinctly Queensland body. It was established in June 1889 following the dissolution of the Brisbane Trades and Labour Council, and promptly sought to bring all Queensland workers under its umbrella.

The union's principal strength lay among the shearers and other pastoral workers of Central Queensland, and the miners of North Queensland (principally those at Charters Towers). At its first general congress, held in Brisbane in August 1890, the decision was made to establish a Labour Party. In December 1890 the A.L.F.'s executive met in Blackall to draw up plans for a proper organisational structure for the Labour Party.

Location

Address:Shamrock Street, Blackall, 4472
State:QLD
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -24.424381
Long: 145.464591
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:Culture
Sub-Theme:Community
Approx. Event Start Date:1886
Approx. Event End Date:1886

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Sunday 9th December, 1990
Front Inscription

Upon an invitation by Blackall residents Jack Howe and Paddy Sheehan to run for the seat of Barcoo, Thomas Joseph (T .J.)  Ryan (1876 - 1921) was elected as the state member for that seat in 1909. He was to become Premier of the first effective Labour Government in Queensland from 1915 - 1919.

He and his Government were both innovative and effective in the area of industrial reform. In 1919 he resigned as Premier of Queensland to enter Federal Parliament.  He gained popularity because of his concern for the rights of the worker, small business operators and landholders of the time.

Inscription in Proximity
This monument was unveiled on the 100th anniversary of the ALF Executive meeting, the 9th of December, 1990 by the Hon. Paul Keating Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and the Hon. Tom Burns Deputy Premier of Queensland
Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au