Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1850 - 1965 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
5.5 m
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
This union was formed in 1855 initially as the Independent Society but more commonly referred to as the Friendly Society of United Operative Stonemasons of Victoria. It was later called the Trade and Friendly Society of Operative Stone Masons of Victoria. An earlier organisation called the Operative Masons' Benefit Society had existed in Victoria from November 1850 but it went into recess the following year. The union became the Victorian branch of the Operative Stonemasons' Society of Australia in 1918.
Name of creator
Biographical history
The union was formed in 1918 and registered in 1919 with the amalgamation of state-based societies in Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. The Society was deregistered in 1991.
Repository
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Minutes of general and Committee meetings (1856-1962), correspondence and letterbooks, alphabetical registers of members (1855-1953), financial records, arbitration material, rule books, and records of the following lodges: Batesford, Ballarat, Beechworth, Big Hill, Black Forest, Bolinda Vale, Campaspe, Carlsruhe, Castlemaine, Collingwood, Faraday, Footscray, Geelong, Harcourt, Leithbridge, Maryborough, Middle Stump, Moorabool, Morang, Pentridge, Prahran, Ravenswood, Riddles Creek, Sunbury, Williamstown, Woodend, and Yan Yean. Also includes record of contributions and cash receipts of the Operative Masons' Benefit Society (1850-1851).
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Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Researchers must sign an access agreement
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Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Digital copies of selected items available as follows:
Melbourne Lodge minutes (1856 - 1902) at https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/123200
Collingwood Lodge minutes (1859 - 1860) at https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/117717
Batesford/Moorabool Lodge minutes (1858 - 1860) at https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/117709
Carlsruhe/Woodend/Williamstown Lodge minutes (1860 - 1868) at https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/handle/1885/117700
Related units of description
NBAC P94-17, Operative Stonemasons of Pentridge, Stony Creek Lodge records, 1858-1860
NBAC P94-18, Friendly Society of Operative Stonemasons membership books, 1855
NBAC P94-19, Melbourne United Operative Masons' Benefit Society minutes, 1850-1858
Notes area
Note
Nine volumes of Melbourne Lodge minutes (1856 - 1902), one volume of Collingwood Lodge minutes (1859 - 1860), one volume of Batesford/Moorabool Lodge minutes (1858 - 1860), and one volume of Carlsruhe/Woodend/Williamstown Lodge minutes (1860 - 1868) are inscribed on the UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Register as part of the Minute Books of Pre-Federation Australian Trade Unions (http://www.amw.org.au/register/listings/minute-books-pre-federation-australian-trade-unions)
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Dates of creation revision deletion
Entered from deposit description 28 September 2012