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Joseph Henry (Joe) McCubbin (1874–1929)

This article was published:

Joseph McCubbin, 1923 [detail]

Joseph McCubbin, 1923 [detail]

Chronicle (Adelaide), 21 July 1923, p 34

Joseph Henry (Joe) McCubbin (1874-1929) trade union official

Birth: 7 August 1874 at Copperhouse, Burra, South Australia, son of Thomas George McCubbin (1848-1915), a labourer, born in Tasmania, and Susan Matilda, née Starke (1851-1930), born at South Perrett, Somerset, England, who had arrived at Port Adelaide, SA, aboard the Aliquis in June 1856. Marriage: 1895 at Broken Hill, New South Wales, to Lydia Ann Phillips (1878-1949). They had two daughters and three sons. Death: 15 February 1929 at Broken Hill. Religion: Methodist. 

  • Moved to Broken Hill in 1887 at 13 years of age. Joined Australian Workers’ Union?.
  • Later member of the Amalgamated Miners’ Association for twenty years, member of management committee, secretary and president.
  • President of the Municipal Employees' Association. Associated with Town Employees' Union, including secretary.
  • Secretary of the Liquor Trades' Union. Represented union on Industrial Court on various occasions.
  • President of the Australian Labor Federation. President of the Barrier District Assembly of the Political Labor League (PLL)?; President of Sturt Ward of the PPL.
  • Elected president of the Hotel, Club and Restaurant Employes’ Union in February 1912 when the union was on strike for better conditions. Described as general secretary of the local branch of the Hotel, Clubs Restaurants, and Caterer’s Union and secretary of the Barrier Horsedrivers’ and Wholesale Employees’ Union (“one of the militant unions on the Barrier”) in May 1913.
  • in 1926 was secretary of the Shop Assistants' Union and was still secretary of the Hotel and Restaurant Employes' Union. In 1928, while secretary of the Town Employees’ Union, had a serious illness.
  • Appointed justice of the peace in November 1925. Chairman of Central Broken Hill Football Club. Member of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Silver City branch, No. 157.
  • At his death he was secretary of the Tailors and Tailoress’ Union. Cause of death: valvular heart disease and pulmonary fibrosis.

Sources
Barrier Daily Truth (Broken Hill), 17 December 1926.

Additional Resources and Scholarship

Citation details

'McCubbin, Joseph Henry (Joe) (1874–1929)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/mccubbin-joseph-henry-joe-34376/text43143, accessed 11 May 2025.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Joseph McCubbin, 1923 [detail]

Joseph McCubbin, 1923 [detail]

Chronicle (Adelaide), 21 July 1923, p 34

Life Summary [details]

Birth

7 August, 1874
Burra, South Australia, Australia

Death

15 February, 1929 (aged 54)
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

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
Key Organisations
Political Activism