Back to search results
Eight Hours Monument
Cnr Victoria & Russell Streets,, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 - Property No B5833
Eight Hours Monument
Cnr Victoria & Russell Streets,, MELBOURNE VIC 3000 - Property No B5833
All information on this page is maintained by National Trust.
Click below for their website and contact details.
National Trust
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
On this page:
Statement of Significance
The Eight Hours Monument, solid rather than showy, represents a series of compromises: the base & pediment (design by a respected architect, Peter Kerr, for a different statue) much later joined by a monument designed, because of lack of funds, by stonemasons (the movement's pioneers), and the whole moved from one position to another because of inconvenient tram lines. However, the symbolism of the monument is easily read: the motto 'Labour, Rest, Recreation' encircles the globe, with the '888' clearly shown. The only unexpected aspect to the modern Australian eye is the crown atop the globe although such imperial loyalty would not have been unexpected in its day.
The Eight Hours Monument, celebrating the Eight Hours Movement, has state, national and international significance: the achievement the monument commemorates was important for working people not only in Victoria, but also in the whole of Australia and the world. The Eight Hours Movement was part of the lifting of harsh working conditions brought about by the Industrial Revolution. That this should happen in Melbourne was, at least in part, to Victoria's wealth from the gold strikes and the presence of workers who had emigrated from Britain to escape the opposition to unionism. The eight hour working day in Victoria was gained easily and quickly, without serious opposition from employers, in contrast to other countries where the struggle took much longer.
Classified:18/06/1990
Revised: 04/02/2002
The Eight Hours Monument, celebrating the Eight Hours Movement, has state, national and international significance: the achievement the monument commemorates was important for working people not only in Victoria, but also in the whole of Australia and the world. The Eight Hours Movement was part of the lifting of harsh working conditions brought about by the Industrial Revolution. That this should happen in Melbourne was, at least in part, to Victoria's wealth from the gold strikes and the presence of workers who had emigrated from Britain to escape the opposition to unionism. The eight hour working day in Victoria was gained easily and quickly, without serious opposition from employers, in contrast to other countries where the struggle took much longer.
Classified:18/06/1990
Revised: 04/02/2002
Show more
Show less
-
-
-
-
FORMER CARLTON AND UNITED BREWERYVictorian Heritage Register H0024
-
ROSAVILLEVictorian Heritage Register H0408
-
MEDLEY HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0409
-
-