The 21 April marks the anniversary of the historic first win of the eight-hour day by the stonemasons in Melbourne. At a time when this is no longer universal and the pressure is to cut penalty rates and casualise work, there is good reason to ponder on whether as a nation, we have the right to squander what those who came before, fought for and have handed. The following article is the State Library of Victoria website and should be necessary reading for all.

In the 1850s, Melbourne was growing at a startling rate: the gold rush had brought an influx of hopeful migrants to the city, and building tradesmen were working longer hours in harsh conditions to keep up with demand for new buildings.

A growing number of workers were ready to make a stand to improve their working conditions, and after consulting with employers they called a public meeting at Queen’s Theatre on 26 March 1856. At the meeting, workers proclaimed that ‘the time has arrived when the system of 8 hours should be introduced into the building trades’ and ‘that after the 21st of this month we promise to work 8 hours and no longer.’

On 21 April 1856, a group of stonemasons – led by James Stephens – walked off the job at Melbourne University. They marched to the Belvedere Hotel in Fitzroy, with other stonemason joining them along the way. They ended the march with a banquet at the hotel to enjoy some well-deserved recreation time, and celebrate their shared goals.

Their courage was rewarded. In the months to come, talks with employers led to a peaceful agreement that stonemason would now work 8 hours for the same wage as they previously were paid for ten:

[The masons] have succeed, at least in all the building trades in enforcing [the 8 hour day] without effort. The employers have found it necessary and politic to give in, and without struggle; agreeing, we believe, to pay the same amount of wages as formerly for ten hours’ labour.

– The Herald, 1 May 1856

The historic success of the campaign was celebrated on 12 May 1856 with a grand march from Carlton Gardens to Cremorne Gardens in Richmond, followed by dinner, speeches, games, festivities and fireworks.

Known as the 8 Hours Procession, the march became a major event in Melbourne and was held annually for the next 95 years, becoming a paid public holiday in 1879. However, in 1934, the holiday was renamed ‘Labour Day’ and by the end of World War II there was little public interest in the procession.

The last Labour Day parade was held in 1951, and in 1955, it was replaced by the Melbourne Moomba Festival parade.