From Red to White: Wagga Wagga, 1890–1990

Abstract

In the late nineteenth century unions were formed and flourished in rural Australia, supporting radicalism, socialism and industrial militancy, and linked with what appeared to be an ever-stronger labour movement. In the twentieth century there was a significant shift, with right-wing organisations, political parties and farming movements developing that were diametrically opposed to the labour movement; by the end of the century the Australian Labor Party (ALP) was largely city-based and trade unions had a low profile in rural areas. From a regional perspective, focusing on Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, and its hinterland, this paper examines reasons for this change during the 100 years from 1890. It highlights problems encountered by the labour movement and activists for social and political change. It concentrates on challenges facing the Wagga Wagga branch of the ALP, due especially to changing workforce demography, on the local elite and its control of institutions and on issues such as ‘countrymindedness’ and religion. Together, these offered insurmountable obstacles to trade unions and the labour movement at the regional level.