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Sydney Trades Hall was established by the developing trade union movement in NSW. The building was first begun in 1888 with the final meeting hall finished in 1917. The Royal beginnings of the project are set out here
A large scale refurbishment was completed in 2007
The building has been “home” for many trade unions during its history with 88 separate offices in the building in the late 1940s.
This site aims to provide you with a virtual guide the trade unions who have lived in Trades Hall and a general guide to the history of all trade unions in NSW and Australia. Their histories and current practices can be accessed through this virtual hall and images of their badges, banners, campaign activities and their links with unions throughout the world will provide you with insights into the history of trade unionism and its centrality to social justice, democracy and human rights in today’s world.
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Unions NSW  Sydney Trades Hall is owned by Unions NSW, the peak body representing over 60 unions covering all fields of work and over 600,000 union members. Unions NSW began life in 1871 as the Sydney Labor Council, later became the Sydney branch of the Australian Labour Federation. The name Labor Council of NSW was adopted in 1908 and Unions NSW became the official title in 2005. It had been a tenant of Trades Hall from the first opening in 1895 (when Chris Watson, the first national leader of a labour party anywhere in the world the become Prime Minister, was President) until 1970 when the Labor Council opened its own building right next door to the Trades Hall. Unions NSW has now returned to the Trades Hall. JOINING A UNION To find out more about joining a trade union you visit Unions Australia  There are many good reasons to join a union Students can find lots of useful material for assignments and information about unions that may cover them in their casual work at Worksite This has excellent student materials and a job-union match guide. There are trade unions in each state of Australia most of whom are branches of federal bodies. The federal unions are affiliated to the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) |
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Kylie Hilton braved the copperplate handwriting of the Trades Hall Association minute books to produce a fascinating short illustrated history of the building from the spawning of the idea of such a hall to the 21st century refurbishment. The Sydney Trades Hall building is a physical reminder of the history and tradition of the Trade Union Movement in New South Wales, as well as a chronicler of the social and socio-economic history of the city.
Construction began in 1888, just 100 years after the arrival of the first European settlers, with the laying of the foundation stone by Lord Carrington. However, another 28 years were to pass efore the building was completed and stage five of the onstruction process officially signed off. The building, which today is often referred to as the birthplace of the Trade Union Movement in New South Wales, still evokes strong and passionate feelings from those who once worked within its walls. “The Hall” was all things to all people - from being a meeting place for various associations and unions early in its life, to its subsequent role as provider of office space for unions, artists and professionals in the 1990s, and now, once again, the corporate headquarters for Unions NSW. |
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