2016-05-25
Ms PENNICUIK (Southern Metropolitan) — I am pleased to see that the state government has allocated $10 million to help repair and restore the Victorian Trades Hall building, one of Victoria's and Australia's most important heritage buildings. In 1856 Victorian workers were the first in the world to win the 8-hour day. That is 160 years ago. The Trades Hall building was first built in 1859 as a timber structure. It was built by unionists who won the 8-hour day. The building as we know it today was designed by architect Joseph Reed, who is responsible for many of Melbourne's grand buildings such as the Town Hall, the State Library of Victoria and the Exhibition Building. The current Trades Hall was constructed in stages between 1873 and 1926, which means this year marks 90 years since its completion. It is believed to be one of the world's oldest working trades hall buildings.
Trades Hall contains a number of community groups and hosts the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. It is a very important and dynamic building in Victoria today. I was privileged to work there as an employee of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) when the ACTU assisted with repairs to the Lygon Street building. I worked there from late 1998 to 2000, when the executive and industrial staff moved there. Like working in this building, you are very steeped in the history of the place. People from all walks of life come in and out. I think this is a great initiative by the state government to help repair and restore this building.