Kalgoorlie Western Argus 24 May 1904, page 23

Eight-Hour Demonstration Burt Street, Boulder – Image TROVE

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 brigade 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  -Image TROVE

Tailors Union Float in 1904 – Image TROVE

For all the football fans out there in celebration of the Football Grand Final Weekend, 27th Sept 2014. You may notice some names that are still well-known in town today.

Trafalgar Football Club 1910 – Image SLWA

Studio group portrait of Trafalgar Second Rate Football Club, Premiers 1910.
Front Row: W Meyers, S Brown, J Condon (Umpire), H Eddy, J Wallace, Second Row: (Sitting) W.Williams,
P Jenkins, D Mundy (Vice Capt), A V Rose (President), R Brown (Capt), W Bursill (Manager), T J Hughes (Sec), P Rowe, H Northey, Third Row: (Standing) C Jones (Trainer), D Menzies,
A J Angove, J Williams, S Keast, A Hedley, E Mundy, R F Louden (Ass Sec), H Louden, J Williams (Trainer). Absent T Mayberry, J Kennedy, E Bosiste.
Two young boys are seated in the front as mascots.