People Australia

William Charles Gillespie (1833-1917) labourer and trade union official

Birth: 15 July 1833 at Montrose, Angus, Scotland, sixth of nine children of Evans Gillespie (1796-1879), a linen hand loom weaver, born in Ireland, and Margaret, née Clark (1801-1845). Marriage: 16 December 1853 at Scots Church, Sydney, New South Wales, to Honora Canty (1832-1898). They had one daughter and four sons, who all predeceased him. Death: 16 August 1917 in Little Sisters of the Poor home, at Randwick; previous residence Erskineville. Religion: Presbyterian, converted to Catholicism in old age. Buried at Waverley Cemetery. 

• In 1851 arrived in Sydney via Mauritius, having worked as seaman on Fanny Fisher. Took job on coastal boat running to Richmond River to load cedar.
• Became builders’ labourer and early trade union organiser in Sydney. Founding member of United Laborers’ Protective Society (at times United Hodcarriers’ Society) in 1861.
• Member of Eight Hour Committee for more than thirty years. Delegate to Eight-Hour Extension and Short Hours League at first meeting 1869. Organised first dinner of committee and a procession in the city followed by an excursion to Balmoral, in 1869.
• First union delegate to NSW Trades and Labor Council. Was a land trustee of the Sydney Trades Hall and a member of the Trades Hall Association.
• Important figure in United Laborers’ history as quasi-craft labourers’ union closely linked to building artisans’ unions.
• Opposed to formation of Labor Party and aloof from that body during 1890s.
• Cause of death: cardiac degeneration and rheumatism.

Sources
John Rickard, Class and Politics (Canberra 1976); United Laborers’ Protective Society minutes, Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW; Australian Star, 7 October 1889; Co-operator Eight Hour Journal, 7 October 1912.