Badge, Australian Timber Workers Union, Australia, 1920s
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1920s
Note: This object includes white superiority messaging. Round badge issued by the Australian Timber Workers Union circa 1920. The union was formed from 1918, having previously operated since around 1900 under the guises of the Federated Saw Mill and Timber Yard Employees' Federation, the Federated Saw Mill Timber Yard & General Wood Workers Employees' Association, and the Amalgamated Timber Workers' Union of Australia.
The Australian Timber Workers Union extended its coverage to workers in box and case factories, saw makers' shops, joiners' workshops, carpenters, implement workers and wood working machinists. Round badge with decorative flourishes at top and bottom. Blue enamelling with white enamelled map of Australia, over which is inscribed: 'Australian Timber Workers Union'. The six states and symbols of tools of the timber industry.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This badge provides an example of the popular promotion of the White Australia sentiment which dominated Australian immigration policy after Federation and which was promoted by political parties, unions and organisations such as the Australian Natives' Association (a Friendly Society which provided benefits to its Australian-born members).
These groups were staunch supporters of trade protection and immigration restriction. In the case of unions, it was in order to protect workers from imported labour, often paid at lower than award wages which then, they argued, resulted in taking jobs away from local workers. The use of the white map of Australia iconography, a common feature of medals, badges and stamps, reinforces the white Australia message.
The museum holds few strong iconographic objects relating to the white Australia policy - this is a significant addition to the collection.
Physical characteristics
- Dimensions
- Overall Dimensions: 29 mm (Width), 38 mm (Height)
Technical characteristics
- Maker recorded
- G.A. Miller
- Place recorded
- Australia
Design
- Marks and inscriptions
- Obverse, enamelled: "AUSTRALIAN TIMBER WORKERS UNION / NO. 6 BRANCH / S.A. / QLD / W.A. / TASMANIA / N.S.W. / VIC". Reverse, imprint: 'G.A. Miller Sydney' and the medal number '318'.
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Museums Victoria, Melbourne collection record for this single object (sentences kept verbatim apart from removed sale or rarity wording); how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Candidate id
- mv-1459444
- Museum object name
- Badge - Australian Timber Workers Union, circa 1920s
- Holding institution
- Museums Victoria, Melbourne
- Museum object number
- HT 22939
- Published references
- Australian Trade Union Archives: http://www.atua.org.au/biogs/ALE0270b.htm Australian Trade Union Archives: http://www.atua.org.au/biogs/ALE0061b.htm http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/objectsthroughtime/objects/banner/
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.