Wickham ALP Branch

Wickham branch of the Australian Labor Party is one of the oldest Labor Party Branches in Australia. Originally established as a Political Labour League in 1883, some 8 years prior to the establishment of the
Australian Labor Party, Wickham Branch covers the traditionally working class suburbs of Wickham, Islington,Maryville and Tighes Hill in the inner city of Newcastle, New South Wales.

Wickham branch was established as the Bullock Island Political Labour League in February 1883, on Bullock Island (now Carrington) in Newcastle Harbour. In these early years, the membership of the League mostly comprised miners from the old Bullock Island and Maryville collieries, waterside workers from the local Throsby Basin Whalves and workers from the Railway workshops near Honeysuckle Point. Just before 1900 the league transferred it headquarters to Wickham, when it became known as Wickham Labour League. During this period, the League affiliated with the Australia Labor Party.(1)

Over the years, the Branch has been known by different names. From the 1960's until 1999, the Branch was known as the Wickham - Islington Branch. In the 1999, Wickham Branch incorporated the neighbouring Tighes Hill Branch to become known by its current name of Wickham Branch.

In 2008, the Branch will celebrate it's 125th Anniversary.

References(1) The Newcastle Morning Herald, March 2 1943.