Back Row: John Reside (A.C.D.C.A), R Hancock (Trades and Labor Council), Robert Hastie (AWA), William Fraser (AWA), James W Nevill (AWA), M H O’Connor (AWA), L Larney (Loco Drivers Assoc), William Stewart (AWA), J McCarthy (Bootmakers Union)
Middle Row: R Balmire, R Pugh (Bakers Union), S R Hill (Boilermakers) , Fergie Reid (AWA), W Diver (Carpenters and Joiners), Hugh De Largie (AWA, President), Fred C Gilbert (AWA), Fred Davis (Trades and Labor Council Perth), Timothy Teasdale (A.C.D.C.A), W McIlroy (A.R.D.A) , J Brady (AWA)
Front Row: William Kerr (Govt Engine Drivers), David K McMurtrie (AWA), Thomas H Bath (Knights of Labor), W D Johnson (Kalgoorlie Trades and Labor Council), John Price (AWA Eastern Goldfields)
On the 11th to the 15th April 1899, some 120 yrs ago the first Western Australian Union and Labor Congress was help in Coolgardie. The above photograph was taken to commemorate the event.
Last week the Premier, Mark McGowan and delegates, traveled to the Goldfields and stopped in Coolgardie for a ‘Then and Now’ photo opportunity. They will be sending me a copy of the photo to add to this post soon.
West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), Wednesday 12 April 1899, page 6
TRADES UNION CONGRESS AT COOLGARDIE.
FIRST DAY. COOLGARDIE, April 11 1899
The first Trades Union Congress in Western Australia held its opening session at Coolgardie to-day.
The delegates from the Perth and Fremantle centers and of the goldfields districts were met at the railway station by the Mayor of Coolgardie (Mr. J. T. Glowery) and Crs. Feehan and Moore, and Mr. Hugh De Largie (president of the Australian Workers’ Association).
An adjournment was made to the Municipal Council Chambers, for the purpose of welcoming the delegates. Here the Mayor proposed the toast of ” Success to the Trades Union Congress.” He stated that It gave him pleasure to welcome the delegates from Perth, Fremantle, and the goldfields districts. Some people thought that it was not advisable to connect themselves with labor, but he felt that it was his duty to welcome such a representative body.
It was a recognised fact that when Labor and Capital worked together, the whole community was benefited. Looking at the business sheet, he saw that important subjects were mentioned, which would assist the material welfare of the colony, if carried into effect. He was glad to welcome the delegates from the coastal districts, and hoped that they would learn much of the resources of the district, and that they would inform their friends of the great possibilities. He considered that in from three to five years the district would be the richest in the world. He hoped that the delegates would thoroughly inspect the district and, the exhibition, and that they would enjoy the whole of their stay. He regarded it as his duty to publicly welcome such representative men, and trusted that their deliberations would benefit labor generally. The toast was enthusiastically drunk in bumpers of champagne.
The meeting was help at Harry Pearce’s Athletic Hall in Bayley street, Coolgardie. However, the hall was set back from the road, its entrance behind two shops over the road from the entrance to the Coolgardie Museum. I therefore think that the above photo was not taken there. I think that they would have selected a good spot for the photo in front of a building. It could have been taken in front of many of the buildings which are now long gone but of the existing buildings, the only one that is close I think is the Marvel Bar Hotel. What do you think?
The Marvel Bar Hotel, now the Coolgardie RSL in Bayley Street, Coolgardie 2017
Moya Sharp
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I lived in Coolgardie for about 6 years when I was young, and was married there, and eventually lived at Post Office quarters, just near the old building. Thank you again, as I will forward on to two of my family who are now Politicians in WA Govt. and will be of interest to them. As my daughter lived there as a little girl as well.