Biographical entry Stephens, James (1821 - 1889)

Summary

Born at Chepstow on the River Wye in 1821, James Stephens arrived in Melbourne in 1853. By 1856 Stephens had helped form a Committee of Masons (Stephens was Chairman) with its chief goal being the introduction of an eight hour working day. The principle of eight hours work, eight hours recreation and eight hours sleep won unanimous support amongst various building unions and soon became widely accepted throughout Australia. Stephens died in Carlton in 1889.

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Arrowsmith, John, 'How Labour Day began in Victoria', Recorder, no. 98, 1979, pp. 5-8. Details