Trades Hall

Trades Hall was built as offices for the WA Labor Party, several unions, and as the entrance to Unity Hall. Opened in 1912, the building is has three-storeys and is in the Federation Romanesque style.

The Metropolitan District Council (MDC) represented the interests of its affiliated unions, dealing with issues such as fundraising, Labour Day celebrations, and the conduct of strikes. The MDC originally had their headquarters in various buildings around the city since establishment, including Green’s Chambers in Hay Street and Brookman’s Buildings. In 1910, the MDC secured the lease from the Presbyterian Church for Shearer’s Memorial Hall on Beaufort Street.

The Hall was purchased from the church the following year, and so work could begin on the construction of a permanent Trades Hall. On 8 August 1911, the foundation stone was laid by the Prime Minister, and leader of the Australian Labour Party, Andrew Fisher. The ceremony lasted only half an hour due to the Prime Minister’s other commitments that day.

When the first part of the development opened in 1912, the new Trades Hall including land, cost £6,300, and was constructed of face brick, and had three levels, one at lower ground (basement), and contained mostly offices for various union bodies and necessary amenities such as toilets and meeting rooms.

There were already plans under way for the construction of the large hall at the back for various meetings. Until the new hall was erected, Shearer’s Memorial Hall continued to be used, which was now at the rear of Trades Hall.

The outbreak of World War I stopped any new building work on the site, and it was not until 1922 that the foundation stone for the second portion of Trades Hall was laid.

Opening in May 1923, Unity Hall provided space for the more official functions and events for the Trade Hall, and also became an important venue for dancing and boxing.

There were a number of further extensions to Trades Hall, usually in response to a need for more space. In the 1930s, land to the south was purchased, which was then occupied by some cottages and a shop. A photograph dated 1934, shows the new extension just after its completion. The ground floor was mostly shops, later converted into union offices, along with self-contained flats for the caretakers on the third floor. In early 1973, this extension was demolished to make way for anew multi-storey office building, Curtin House.I

In 1985, Trades Hall was sold to Delaney Art Gallery (of Claremont) and the offices were relocated to newer premises in Brewer Street. During its time as Delaney Gallery the upper floors were used as gallery space for art and the basement used as office space.

In 2013 the building was purchased by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) so the building could once again be used for trade union business. A significant renovation process was undertaken restoring the building. On 29 June 2014, the building was re-opened by unveiling a plaque bearing the inscription “Back in the Hands of those who built it”.