ABSTRACT
This chapter examines organization amongst workers manufacturing building materials (stonecutters, brickmakers) and furniture (carvers), given close links between the two activities. Building materials were often manufactured close to construction sites and were equally susceptibility to boom/bust cycles in colonial economies. Like construction, building materials was sensitive to economic conditions. Much construction prior to 1840, especially labouring, was undertaken by government-engaged convicts. Even in free colonies, government played a pivotal role to civil construction. Informal organization amongst unskilled construction workers was considerable but dominated by government-engaged convicts. Informal single-workplace action amongst building tradesmen was also comparatively rare, especially after unions formed. There were instances of collective action by free-labourers. Convicts undertook most construction labouring in New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land. This and succeeding waves of emigrants made it difficult for labourers to organize, although one society was formed in Sydney.
