Home » Themes » People » Humanitarian
David TemplePrint Page 
The plaque over the grave commemorates the centenary of the formation of Australian Workers` Union by David Temple in April 1886. David Temple, when shearing rates were cut, canvassed shearers in Victoria to form a union. The grave was restored in 1982.
In January 1887, small shearers unions in Wagga Wagga and Bourke in New South Wales joined Temple`s union to became the Amalgamated Shearers Union of Australasia which was the forerunner of Australian Workers` Union (AWU). Temple was elected general secretary and William Spence president. Within three years the union was the largest and most effective labour organization in Australia. Temple refused a £50 bonus voted him by a grateful membership in 1889.
Location
| Address: | 1187 Sydney Road, Fawkner Memorial Park, Fawkner, 3060 |
|---|---|
| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -37.713556 Long: 144.960147 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | People |
| Sub-Theme: | Humanitarian |
| Link: | http://adb.anu.edu.au/ |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Tuesday 27th September, 2011 |
|---|
David Temple
4 July 1862 - 27 September 1921
Foundation Secretary, the Australasian Shearers` Union
Foundation General Secretary, the Australian Workers` Union
1886 - 1897
"More than any other, this man single-handedly founded Australian unionism - he convened the first mass meeting of shearers in Ballarat, at his own expense, and then enrolled 1500 members in five weeks - he initiated the move to form a Labor Party at the 1891 AWU Comvention - he planned a 'union of unions' 40 years before the ACTU was created - and he declined any financial token from grateful members"
Erected by the Australian Workers` Union in honour and gratitude - 27 September 2001
