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William (Bill) O'Connor (1880–1948)

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William (Bill) O'Connor (1880-1948) bootmaker and trade union official

Birth: 1880 at Cork, Ireland, son of John O’Connor, carpenter. Unmarried. Death: 25 February 1948 at Clovelly, Sydney, usual residence: Tantallon Avenue, Arncliffe. Religion: Catholic. 

  • Arrived in Australia with his family about 1888. First honorary secretary of the Operators' and Rough-stuff Cutters’ Union of NSW in 1902.
  • Moved into federation of union with amalgamation of operators and clickers' unions in 1908. Treasurer of the NSW branch of the Australian Boot Trade Employees’ Federation from 1913 and performed in honorary capacity for six months after which it became permanent; continued until 1921.
  • Secretary of NSW branch of union from 1921 until defeated by Jim Maloney in 1932. Continued participation in branch meetings.
  • Returned to trade during early stages of World War II when labour was short. Worked at Selby Shoes Pty Ltd in Redfern until about 1946.
  • Lived in Arncliffe with his sister at the time of his death.
  • Cause of death: cerebral thrombosis and arteriosclerosis.

Sources
Unity, 15 May 1948, p 13.

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Citation details

'O'Connor, William (Bill) (1880–1948)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/oconnor-william-bill-34576/text43468, accessed 23 June 2026.

© Copyright People Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

1880
Cork, Ireland

Death

25 February, 1948 (aged ~ 68)
Clovelly, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

cerebral thrombosis

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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