Ballarat Trades Hall

12/06/2026

A very happy birthday to the mighty AWU.

A National Union born in Ballarat and forever intertwined with our Hall.

Here’s to another 140.

Ballarat is a Union Town

12/06/2026

Today the Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council gathered to honour a Ballarat union legend.

Our former Secretary Brett was awarded the honour of the stage at our mighty hall, being named after him.

Brett started his journey as a delegate to our Council in the 1990’s. A former Council President and Secretary, Brett’s contribution to our council and hall is immense.

A fitting tribute to a true Comrade. Congratulations Brett.

The BRTLC thanks Saines Lucas and the Regional Trades and Labour Council’s for their support and presence.

Ballarat is a Union Town.

12/06/2026

Today is Thank a First Responder Day!

The AWU would like to thank all of our Forest Firefighters for the amazing work they do. Our AWU Forest Firefighters show up every time with the courage to battle dangerous conditions to protect communities and the land. They conduct critical work throughout the year, across the State, keeping everyone’s families safe from harm. Today we thank you for your incredible work and your families for supporting you through it.

We’d also like to congratulate you on the successful 98% Yes vote on your Enterprise Agreement. Your efforts over the past 18 months is truly something to behold, and we are proud of you for sticking together and fighting for an outcome you deserve.

07/05/2026

'It's a proud part of our history, and it needs a little love.'

07/05/2026

This is very welcome news for our beautiful 139 year old building! This vital funding will enable Ballarat Trades Hall to become a more inclusive and accessible building for workers and the Ballarat community now and into the future.
Thank you Catherine King for your continued advocacy and support for our historic hall and the important role it serves in our region.

Since the Ballarat Trades Hall opened its doors in the 1880s, it’s played a key role in our city’s history, and kept the Eureka spirit alive.

Today the building isn’t just home to the union movement, but countless community groups, a law firm and even yoga and dance groups.

However, like most beautiful, historical building from the 1800s, it is showing its age and lacks a few modern features, like accessibility.

We are supporting Trades Hall, with a $607,000 investment from the Albanese Government.

This building plays such an important role in Ballarat’s history. It’s vital it continues to play that role for decades to come.

29/04/2026

28/04/2026

Today marks our 170th birthday.

On this day in 1856 the Ballarat 8 hour Committee met at a pub on Bakery Hill to work towards an 8 hour day across all industries in Ballarat.

This committee became the Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council in 1887 when the committee began construction of Ballarat Trades Hall. The second oldest Union Building still operating in the World.

Our Council has changed the world.

Australia’s oldest Australian born Blue Collar Union the mighty AWU was born up the road from Ballarat Trades Hall in a pub on Sturt Street in 1886.

The first rules of any Union participation in politics were written at Ballarat Trades Hall. Months before Barcaldine. Without the BRTLC there is no Labor Party in Australia.

The great split began inside our council chambers. When the local Ballarat MP broke away from Labor with a section of the council. Leading to a decade of split meetings and animosity.

Thousands of trade unionists have met, debated, passed motions, lobbied, rallied, went on strike and celebrated or commiserated countless victories and defeats.

The working class is handed nothing. Battles decide everything. Our council has proudly taken its place in our incredible movement.

Working class suffrage, the 8 hour day, public education, the minimum wage, workplace ohs, sick leave, annual leave, long service leave, family violence leave, reproductive health leave, superannuation, the 38 hour week, Medicare, the PBS, gender equality, equal pay, same s*x marriage and industrial manslaughter laws have all been fought for by the women and men of the Ballarat Trade Union movement.

Our city has a proud history of fighting for what is right. As we are a collective movement the wins are much sweeter and the defeats softened because we do our work together.

Our Council is the peak body for our movement in the Goldfields. Nothing progressive has occurred in those 170 years without the backing and efforts of BRTLC delegates.

Our council’s motto rings true today. The Unity of Labour is the last hope of the world.

Ballarat is a Union Town.

Here’s to another 170 years!

28/04/2026

28/04/2026

“Remember the dead, and fight like hell for the living.”

Today is International Worker’s Memorial Day, a day where we pause to remember all the workers who went to work one day and never came home.

In just the last 5 years, 385 Victorian workers have died at work. 44 of those workers were from the Ballarat, Grampians and Wimmera region.

So far in 2026, 11 Victorian workers have died at work, with 2 of these fatalities occurring in the greater Ballarat region.

In July 2020, Victoria introduced new Industrial Manslaughter provisions with the Victorian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, with a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment for employer negligence causing death.

The first Victorian conviction for Workplace Manslaughter was recorded in February 2024. Despite pleading guilty, the employer was only sentenced to a two-year community corrections order and directed to complete 200 hours of unpaid community work.

Here at Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council, we believe that if you kill a worker you should go to prison. Because every worker deserves to come home safe from work.

You can help make your workplace safer by reporting all hazards; including near misses, becoming a health and safety representative, and by joining your union!

21/04/2026

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