Ever wonder what secrets lie within these walls? This is the Sydney Trades Hall. It stands as a testament to the struggles and triumphs of Australia’s Trade Union Movement.
Construction of the Sydney Trades Hall began in 1888. Lord Carrington laid the foundation stone. It took 28 years to complete. Stage five of construction was officially signed off then.
The Sydney Trades Hall is often called the birthplace of the Trade Union Movement in New South Wales. It evokes strong feelings from those who worked here. “The Hall” was a meeting place for associations and unions. Later, it provided office space for unions, artists, and professionals.
Today, the Sydney Trades Hall is the headquarters for Unions NSW. It’s a hub for union meetings, functions, and training. The building contains much physical history of the trade union movement. There is also a collection of international union objects and books.
In 1882, representatives of thirteen unions met at The Swan with Two Necks Hotel. That meeting led to the building of the Sydney Trades Hall. A grant of land was made in 1885. Trustees were required to use the land for a Trades Hall and Literary Institute. It was for the use of Sydney’s artificers and operatives.
The Sydney Trades Hall is linked to the history of the union movement in New South Wales. The birth of the New South Wales Labor Party can be traced to unions here. They decided to form a party to enable a labour voice in Parliament. This followed the collapse of the Maritime and Shearers Strike.
John Smedley designed the first portion of the Sydney Trades Hall in 1887. He was one of Australia’s first native-born architects. Smedley won a design competition for the building. It was intended for meetings and lectures. It also included a library and banner room.
The opening ceremony occurred in 1895. Mr. Jacob Garrard commented, “The Trades of the colony will now have a home of their own.” Mr. McIntyre noted that every man employed had been a unionist. They received the full rate of pay.
Major additions were completed in 1900, 1912, and 1916. These followed the Victorian Italianate Style of the original building. The architects for these additions were Spain, Cosh and Minnett.
The Sydney Trades Hall is a large brick and sandstone building. It has four storeys and a basement. An octagonal tower stands at the corner of Goulburn and Dixon Streets. It has a pitched copper roof. The additions closely follow the original Victorian neo classical design.
Inside the Sydney Trades Hall you can find a list of the union offices that once were found within. It’s an index of the city’s past occupations. Bread carters, sailmakers, glass bottle makers and food preservers are among them.
The Sydney Trades Hall houses objects related to its history. There are signs, banners, certificates and more. The large painted banners are ornate and symbolic. Edgar Whitbread painted them. He worked at a studio in the Victoria Arcade.
Lorna Morrison, the Trades Hall secretary, advocated for the banners’ restoration. Other objects were found piled up in the basement during refurbishment. These objects now tell the story of the building. They also tell of the world of work. They show how Sydney’s workers have shaped the city.
Sydney Trades Hall has been the grateful recipient of donations from trade union families. Dianne Mason, a great granddaughter of Jacob Garrard, donated a pence card from 1923-24. His bust remains in the Trades Hall and Literary Institute Library and Reading Room.
The Barrier Daily Truth began as a single news sheet in 1898. Sydney Trades Hall provided images to the producers from its archive. Exhibitions have been held in the Broken Hill Trades Hall.
The Sydney Trades Hall stands as a reminder. It is a reminder of the struggles and victories of the Trade Union Movement. It’s a place where history is preserved. It is a place where the voices of workers continue to resonate.