The forerunner of the United Trades and Labor Council of South Australia was the Labour League which was established in 1874, following the 8 hour day campaign. The Council was formed in Adelaide in January 1884 and began by representing 13 unions. In 1891, it helped sponsor the creation of the Labor Party, the beginning of a long affiliation in the form of organisational and financial support for the Australian Labor Party. After the First World War, it focused on the drastic manufacturing expansion as a source of support but, more recently the Council's emphasis has moved beyond blue collar trades to embrace broader community issues. In its centenary year in 1984, it had 86 affiliated unions and over 170,000 members.