The Victorian Operative Bricklayers' Society was established on 8 April 1856 at the Belvidere Hotel, Brunswick Street in Collingwood 'for the purpose of mutual support of the Members in case of accident, and for the Burial of Members and Members' Wives'. Apart from the central Melbourne (No. 1) Lodge, lodges were also formed at Bendigo, Prahran and Richmond. It was an early party to eight-hours agreements but remained unregistered until 1969. In 1988 it joined the two Victorian plaster industry unions to form the Victorian State Building Trades Union.