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The Lodge of the Golden Fleece > work, rest and play
The Lodge of The Golden Fleece meets at East Melbourne on the second Friday of February, March, May, July, September and November.
work, rest and play
Stonemasons lead the movement to introduce an eight hour day into the building trades in Melbourne. On 21 April 1856, following negotiations between building tradesmen and contractors, and with the approval of the colonial government, an eight hour day was introduced into the building trades in Melbourne. The movement was led by the stonemasons who argued that eight hours a day was appropriate in the Australian heat. It would also give them time to improve their 'social and moral condition'
The stone masons were seeking eight hours labour, eight hours rest, eight hours recreation. The building trades in Melbourne were some of the first workers in the world to achieve these conditions. The right to an eight hour day did not immediately apply to all workers, but the movement provided the impetus for other trade unions to agitate for similar conditions.
The Eight Hour Day monument was unveiled by surviving pioneers of the 8 Hour movement with ribbons and speeches on 21 April 1903. The design for the monument by the prominent sculptor Percival Ball is a Harcourt granite column topped with the figures 888 and a globe encircled by the words 'Rest, Labour & Recreation'.
