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Robert Joseph (Bob) Mulvey (1868–1937)

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Robert Joseph (Bob) Mulvey (1868-1937) trade union official

Birth: 24 November 1868 at Brisbane, Queensland, son of William Mulvey (1834-1910), labourer, born at Walton, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, and his second wife Margaret Holmes, née McKechnie. (1834-1910), born at Glasgow, Scotland. Unmarried. Death: 24 April 1937 in Mater Misericordiae Hospital at Brisbane. Religion: Catholic. 

  • Educated at Brisbane State schools. Worked as an artisan in engineering works. Secretary of the Moulders' Union from 1897 to 1908.
  • Secretary of the Eight-Hour Day committee from 1906 to 1923. Served for close on eight years on the Balmoral Shire Council and was for one term its chairman.
  • A member of the General Strike Committee of 1912. An active anti-conscriptionist during World War I.
  • Prominent member of the Clerical Association and represented that body on the Trades and Labor Council (TLC). Secretary of the Queensland TLC from 1923 until he resigned due to ill-health in 1935. Trustee of the Trades Hall up to his death. Member, central executive of the Australian Labor Party.
  • Labor member of the Legislative Council of Queensland from 19 February 1920 until its abolition on 23 March 1922.
  • Justice of the Peace from 1901 at least. An enthusiastic member and office-holder in the Australian Natives’ Association.
  • Cause of death: myocardial degeneration, cardiac failure and syncope.

Sources
Duncan Bruce Waterson Waterson, Biographical register of the Queensland Parliament 1860-1929 (Sydney, 2001); Australian Worker (Sydney), 30 July 1924, p 1; Printing Trades Journal, May 1937.

Additional Resources

  • photo, Worker (Brisbane), 16 March 1912, p 20
  • profile, Daily Standard (Brisbane), 2 May 1914, p 9
  • profile, Daily Standard (Brisbane), 9 July 1921, p 8
  • profile, Daily Standard (Brisbane), 19 July 1924, p 10

Related Entries in NCB Sites

Citation details

'Mulvey, Robert Joseph (Bob) (1868–1937)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/mulvey-robert-joseph-bob-34506/text43349, accessed 11 October 2024.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Bob Mulvey, 1914

Bob Mulvey, 1914

Daily Standard (Brisbane), 2 May 1914, p 9

Life Summary [details]

Birth

24 November, 1868
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Death

24 April, 1937 (aged 68)
Brisbane, Queensland, 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
Key Events
Key Organisations
Political Activism
Workplaces