Australian Shearers' Union Explained

The Australian Shearers' Union (also known as the Australasian Shearers Union, sometimes referred to as the Creswick Shearers' Union) was a significant but short-lived early trade union in Victoria and southern New South Wales. It was formed on 12 June 1886 at a public meeting at Fern's Hotel, Ballarat, to resist a proposed reduction of shearing rates in Victoria and New South Wales, with David Temple as secretary and William Spence as president.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} The union was headquartered at Creswick in Victoria.^[5] A Melbourne branch was formed in July.^[6] By November 1886, it claimed 5000 members: 1500 in Victoria and 3500 in southern New South Wales.^{[7] [8]} Having sought to amalgamate with the various New South Wales unions from an early stage, it merged with the smaller Wagga Shearers Union and Bourke Shearers Union to form the Amalgamated Shearers' Union of Australasia in January 1887.^{[9] [10]}

Notes and References

1. News: TRADES MEETINGS. . . Victoria, Australia . 18 June 1886 . 5 January 2020 . 6 . Trove .
2. News: THE SHEARERS' UNION. . . Victoria, Australia . 11 June 1886 . 5 January 2020 . 3 . Trove .
3. News: AGRICULTURAL NOTES. . . Victoria, Australia . 19 June 1886 . 5 January 2020 . 9 . Trove .
4. News: THE AUSTRALASIAN SHEARERS UNION. . . Victoria, Australia . 28 June 1886 . 5 January 2020 . 6 . Trove .
5. News: THE SHEARERS MEETING. . . New South Wales, Australia . 12 October 1886 . 5 January 2020 . 3 . Trove .
6. News: TRADES MEETINGS. . . Victoria, Australia . 27 July 1886 . 5 January 2020 . 6 . Trove .
7. News: Australasian Shearers' Union. . . New South Wales, Australia . 6 November 1886 . 5 January 2020 . 955 . Trove .
8. Web site: History . Australian Workers' Union . 5 January 2020.
9. Web site: Australian Shearers Union (1886 - 1887) . Australian Trade Union Archives . 5 January 2020.
10. News: THE SHEARERS' UNION OF AUSTRALASIA. . . Victoria, Australia . 20 January 1887 . 5 January 2020 . 6 . Trove .