When
to
Where
Esplanade Park
Marine Terrace
Fremantle WA 6160
Australia
Why
Join UnionsWA this May Day for a family‑friendly celebration of working people and our achievements and help mark the 80th Anniversary of the Pilbara Strikes, a historic stand for dignity, equality and justice.
You and your family are invited to enjoy a fun-filled day with free ice cream, coffee, a sausage sizzle and kids’ entertainment, alongside inspiring speeches and live music. At noon, we’ll take to the streets of Fremantle for the traditional May Day march.
Plan your day
- 10:00 am – May Day festival begins
- 11:00 am – Live music, stories and speeches
- 12:00 pm – May Day march
- 1:30 pm – Festival concludes
The Pilbara Strike
On 1 May 1946, Aboriginal pastoral workers across the Pilbara began a historic fight.
For decades, they had endured gruelling conditions, violence, and little or no pay for their work. Determined to challenge the injustice, Indigenous working groups came together to plan a united response. Led by Dooley Bin Bin and Clancy McKenna, and supported by unionist Don McLeod, they crafted a bold strategy for collective action.
At the height of the shearing season, around 800 workers walked off more than 20 stations, sparking what would become the longest industrial strike in Australian history. Despite arrests, intimidation and relentless pressure from station owners, the strikers refused to back down.
Eighty years later, the Pilbara Strike stands as a defining moment in the struggle for Aboriginal rights, dignity and self-determination. As we mark this anniversary, we honour their courage, the power of solidarity and their enduring legacy in the fight for fairness, safety and respect for all workers.
Remembering the Strike: 80th Anniversary Concert
When the May Day festival wraps up, why not enjoy the rest of the afternoon exploring Fremantle or catching up with fellow unionists at the Buffalo Club?
Then from 6:00pm, head over to Freo Social for the Remembering the Strike: 80th Anniversary Concert featuring Inigenous artists and lots of local talent. Make sure you grab your tickets now, they won’t last long.
Tickets available from Moshtix.
Contact
Unions WA
(08) 6313 6000
[email protected]
unionswa.com.au
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