Summary

Albumen photograph of an Eight Hour Day Procession in Echuca, circa 1890.

The Eight Hour Day march commemorated a successful protest march held on April 21, 1856 by Victorian stonemasons and other members of the building trades. The protest resulted in an agreement by the Victorian Government to ensure all workers on public sites had an eight hour working day. In recognition of the significance of this achievement, April 21 was made a public holiday in 1879 and commemorative marches were held each year from 1879 until 1951. The Eight Hour Day holiday was renamed Labour Day in 1934. In 1955 the Labour Day march and celebrations were replaced by Moomba celebrations.

Description of Content

A line of people walking and riding horsedrawn wagons on a road with a group of onlookers. A row of trees can be seen along the road.

Physical Description

Black and white photograph.

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