The Perth Branch of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History aims to promote the study and dissemination of information about the history of labour, particularly in Western Australia. It organises regular seminars and workshops for this purpose. These are open to members of the public. For further information contact: The Secretary, Perth Branch, Australian Society for the Study of Labour History, PO Box 8351, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849 or email Bobbie Oliver. Find out who’s on the executive of the Perth Branch, and read about the history and role of the branch here.
History Council of Western Australia Award
On 25 October 2022, the Perth Branch of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History received an award from the History Council of Western Australia in recognition of the Society’s outstanding contribution to impact, advocacy and new understandings in Western Australian History. This is a very welcome and timely recognition of the value of labour history, and the work of so many members of this Society over several decades.
Next year, Perth Branch will be celebrating 35 years since our foundation in 1988. It is fitting that two of the Society’s founding members, Lenore Layman (who recently retired from the Executive) and Charlie Fox (who is currently editor of Western Worker) were part of the presentation. They have served on the executive for most of the life of the Society in WA.
The Western Worker
The Branch also publishes The Western Worker (edited by Charlie Fox). In October 2021, the branch published Issue 10. To read Issues 1-9 (edited by Lenore Layman) visit Western Worker. Its previous publication, Papers in Labour History can be read online here. Download the latest version by clicking on the cover below. Please note the following erratum: The previous version of Western Worker carried only half of Alexis Vassiley’s review of Western Australia’s comrades in the book Comrades: Lives of Australian Communists. You will find the full. correct review on pp. 46-47.
Current Events
Servants, Convicts, Slaves: Organising Free and Unfree Labour in Australia
Join the Perth Labour History society for a special symposium on Servants, Convicts, Slaves: Organising Free and Unfree Labour in Australia. The afternoon will feature talks from renowned Australian historians and PhD students.
Where: Trades Hall, 80 Beaufort Street, Perth, WA 6000
When: 12:30–5:30pm (AWST), Saturday 19 August 2023
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR TICKETS
- 12:30pm: Registration
- 1:00–2:15pm: Organising Free and Unfree Labour in the Early Australian Colony with Emeritus Professor Michael Quinlan
- 2:15–2:30pm: Break
- 2:30–3:45pm: Domestic Labour and the Master and Servants Act in WA in the 1890s with Associate Professor Jan Gothard
- 3:45–4:00pm: Break
- 4:005:15pm: Heritage Interpretations of the WA Legacies of British Slavery with PhD candidate Naomi Preston
If you would like to join us for dinner and drinks afterwards, please email Perth Labour History branch secretary Vashti Fox at vashtijane@gmail.com
Past Events
Harold Peden Lecture: A Just Transition – lessons from a living process
Alex Cassie is a former Political and Community Organiser at the AMWU WA, and before that was an Australian diplomat, including as a negotiator at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. She will speak about her experience organising the first three years of the Just Transition Plan for Collie. The lecture is an annual event hosted by the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History for more details about the Society and Harold Peden, see here). Please RSVP with details below for this lecture on Tuesday 22th November. Light refreshments will be available from 6:00 pm and the address will commence at 6:30 pm. The Working Voices Choir will do a performance. You can download the flyer here.
Spanish Cvil War
On Sunday 1 August, Perth Labour history organised an afternoon of celebration, discussion and debate on the 85th anniversary of the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. You can listen to the discussion here.
2019 Biennial Conference: Australian Society for the Study of Labour History
In 2019, the branch hosted the biennial Labour History conference. Iain McIntyre recorded a number of sessions from the conference for radio station 3CR. The programs are now available online as podcasts, along with other 3CR summer series.
Membership of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History, Perth Branch
Membership fees are:
$50 per year for groups and organisations;
$30 per year for individual members;
$15 per year for members seeking a concession.
Membership is for a financial year. To join, please email our Secretary, Vashti Fox, with the following information: Name, Address & Postcode, phone number and email.
To make payment, there are two options: By electronic payment to Bendigo Bank, BSB 633-000, Account number 157346719. Account title Australian Society for the Study of Labour History Inc clearly stating your name and ‘annual membership’. OR By mail to ASSLH Perth Branch, PO Box Z5380, St. George’s Terrace, Perth WA 6831 enclosing a cheque (or cash).