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Charles Kirkwood (1867–1945)

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Charles Kirkwood (1867-1945) carpenter, trade union official and farmer

Birth: 28 August 1867 at Moyston, Victoria, son of Charles Kirkwood (1833-1898), a builder, born at Edinburgh, Scotland, and native-born Rose Ann, née Campbell (1845-1918). Marriage: 1892 in Victoria to native-born Margaret Jane O’Loughlin (1866-1946). They had three daughters and three sons. Death: 18 October 1945 in hospital at Quairading, Western Australia. Religion: Buried with Catholic rites. 

  • Started working life at age 12 when he ran away from home to Pleasant Creek, Victoria (now Stawell). Apprenticed in carpentry trade. Joined the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Union (ASCJ) as a junior member.
  • Moved to Queensland and became active in the Carpenters’ Union at Dangin in the York agricultural areas.
  • Arrived in Western Australia about 1898. Secretary of ASCJ (Amalgamated Carpenters) Perth Branch in 1903, Kalgoorlie Branch in 1904-1905.
  • Secretary of the Metropolitan Council of the Australian Labor Party, Perth, for two years. Assisted in establishing the Labor paper, Westralian Worker.
  • Left Kalgoorlie to farm. Returned to Perth briefly and worked on the Trades and Labour Council, Metropolitan Council, 1907.
  • Farmer in Beverley and part-time work as builder until his death.
  • He retained his interest and enthusiasm for the labour movement, giving advice to old friends on the Metropolitan Council on how to use the Soldier Settlement scheme post World War I to increase the ALP’s rural vote, and how to treat the issue of the One Big Union.
  • He remained opposed to all forms of monopoly including Westralian Farmers control of wheat handling.
  • After World War I he chaired a local repatriation committee.
  • Cause of death: gastric carcinoma and senility.

Sources
Death Certificate Beverley 51/1945; Beverley Times, 2 November 1945; WW 8/9/05 (leaves Kalgoorlie) 22/12/1905 (back in Perth); out to Beverley WW 27/9/1907; Correspondence with Alex McCallum in ALP records: 1688a/ 77, file titled ‘Kirkwood’; Westralian Worker, 1 August 1941.

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Citation details

'Kirkwood, Charles (1867–1945)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/kirkwood-charles-34303/text43038, accessed 11 May 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

28 August, 1867
Moyston, Victoria, Australia

Death

18 October, 1945 (aged 78)
Quairading, Western Australia, Australia

Cause of Death

cancer (stomach)

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation or Descriptor
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