Kalgoorlie Western Argus 24 May 1904, page 23
Eight-Hour Demonstration Burt Street, Boulder
The image above is of the annual ‘Eight Hour’ Demonstration. Labour’s annual holiday from 1900 to 1914. These processions were very popular both with the various trades who constructed floats to showcase examples of their trades and the local public who came to watch. Thousands of people both young and old lined the streets as you can see in this photograph of Burt Street, Boulder. The days began as an expression of union solidarity but then as time went by became more community-focused. The Eastern Goldfields Eight Hours Sports in 1911 illustrated this.
It featured children’s fixtures, track and field athletics, bicycle racing, wrestling, an axemen’s carnival, goat races, ‘kicking the football’ competition, national dancing and a merry-go-round. In 1913 a fire brigades competition was added, in 1914 a first-aid display and in 1915 a scouts relay race. Some of these events related directly to work skills; for instance, woodline workers usually competed in the log chop. But by and large, the labour movement was organising a local community sports carnival and inviting the Caledonian Society, Athletic League and the Fire Brigade.
Typographical Union: 8 hour Demonstration 1904
Tailors Union Float in 1904
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The ‘Eight Hours’ Demonstration 1900 to 1914 – Outback Family History