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Labour History Society SA

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Our aim is to study, record and celebrate the diversity of working life, labour traditions and social history.

30/08/2026

Today the Labour History Society of South Australia came together for a fascinating discussion of the history and legacy of Timor-Leste’s struggle for independence, and the important role played by Australian trade unionists, activists and solidarity organisations.

A big thank you to our speakers Sandra Dann and Andy Alcock for sharing their insights.

We then held our 2026 Annual General Meeting, which elected our incoming Executive. After a successful year, we’re excited to look ahead to 2027, including hosting the biennial national conference of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History (ASSLH).

And there is still plenty to come! Keep an eye out for details of our upcoming September general meeting, which will explore industrial democracy as part of the legacy of Don Dunstan’s government, marking the centenary of his birth.

21/08/2026

The Labour History Society of South Australia invites you to the second instalment of our monthly reading group.

Join us at 2pm on Saturday 6 September at the Exeter Hotel, 248 Rundle Street, East End where we’ll be discussing “Who Are Our Enemies? Racism and the Australian Working Class” edited by Ann Curthoys and Andrew Markus (1978).

Published during the rise of One Nation, racism has yet again become the bosses’ tool for dividing working people. While nearing 50 years old, this foundational collection still has much to offer in understanding Australian racism, anti-racism, and the working class.

📚 Interested in coming along? Email [email protected] for a copy of the readings.

24/07/2026

The Labour History Society of South Australia is excited to announce its monthly reading group. You are invited to join us on the first Saturday of the month at the ’saloon’ of the Exeter Hotel on Rundle Street in the East End. Each session we will discuss either an article sourced from the 'Labour History' journal or focus on a whole work of an Australian labour historian.

Our first session is on the 1st of August 2pm. We will be discussing Padraic Gibson’s Ferguson Prize winning article “Communists and the 1933 Campaign that Ended Frontier Massacres in Australia” (Vol. 129, 2024)

Please DM this page if you are interested in attending and require a copy of the article. For more information, contact [email protected]

12/07/2026

Thank you to Leila Clendon for an engaging presentation celebrating the 80 year anniversary of the 1946 Pilbara Strike at yesterday's Labour History Society (SA) general meeting.

Leila explored one of the longest and most significant industrial disputes in Australian labour history, highlighting the courage and organisation of Aboriginal workers who challenged exploitation and a regime of colonial control. Learn more about the strike: https://pilbarastrike.org

Held during NAIDOC Week, the meeting was a timely reminder of the importance of labour history in bringing to light hidden stories of resistance, solidarity and collective struggle against racism and injustice.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for another excellent discussion.

09/07/2026

THIS SUNDAY: Join the Labour History Society (South Australia) for a special public meeting celebrating the 80th anniversary of the 1946 Pilbara Strike, one of the most significant labour and Aboriginal rights struggles in Australian history.

📍 Box Factory Community Centre
59 Regent St South, Adelaide, 5000
🗓 Sunday 12 July
⏰ 2:00pm – 4:00pm
🎟 Free event

03/06/2026

The Labour History Society (South Australia) is pleased to support two upcoming events organised by IPAN (Independent and Peaceful Australia Network) exploring the connections between war, militarism, climate crisis and Australia's role in global conflicts.

A highlight is the Adelaide screening of “Earth's Greatest Enemy”, a powerful new documentary by journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin. The film investigates the environmental impact of the US military, the world's largest institutional polluter, and examines the links between war, empire and ecological destruction.

Abby Martin will be in Adelaide for a special screening and discussion.

These events come at an important time, as debate continues over AUKUS, US military bases in Australia and the country's involvement in wars in Gaza and elsewhere.

We encourage members and supporters interested in peace, social justice, labour history and environmental issues to attend.

For details of the screening and IPAN's national conference, see the event flyers below.

15/05/2026

On 15 May 1969, the Victorian Tramways union leader Clarrie O’Shea was jailed by the industrial court for refusing to allow it access to the union’s accounts. The union had been fined under anti-union penal powers for undertaking industrial action. The jailing triggered a wave of strikes across Australia with around one million workers taking part until O’Shea was freed six days later.

To learn more about the history of campaigns by Australian unions visit- https://commonslibrary.org/activism-and-campaign-history/

10/05/2026

More than 100 people joined us this afternoon at the North Adelaide Community Centre for the launch of Geoff Goodfellow’s new poetry collection, “Nostalgic Adelaide: Poems Political,, Social and Cultural” presented by the Labour History Society SA as part of South Australia's History Festival.

A big thank you to former Premier Mike Rann for launching the book, and to Jo Laverty for expertly MCing the afternoon. Guests enjoyed readings, discussion, refreshments and reflections on Adelaide’s working-class, political and social history through Geoff’s poetry.

Thanks to everyone who attended and helped make it such a wonderful event.

Read a review of Geoff’s book here: https://www.indailysa.com.au/inreview/books-poetry/2026/05/07/book-review-nostalgic-adelaide

26/03/2026

📣 Applications are now open for the Tom Sheridan Scholarship 2026📣

Each year, the Labour History Society (South Australia) offers the Tom Sheridan Scholarship to support postgraduate research and encourage new work in labour and social history.

The scholarship is valued at $1,000 and includes one year’s membership of the Labour History Society (SA).

If you’re a postgraduate student in South Australia working on a topic connected to the history of the Australian working class, we encourage you to apply.

🗓 Applications close: 5pm, Monday 1 June 2026
📧 Apply / enquiries: [email protected]

Please see the attached poster for full eligibility criteria and application details and share with anyone who may be interested.

15/02/2026

Some extra snapshots from yesterday’s state conference at Adelaide University. Thanks again to everyone who made it such a success!

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176 Tynte St, North Adelaide
Adelaide, SA
5000

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