Judy, I had to laugh when I re-read the bit about Victoria St being the home of low-aid people again. I think only rich folk can afford to live there now!!

But without the Builders Labourers Federation & their Green Bans we would have lost all the old buildings in Victoria St & the whole street would have been covered by buildings like the monstrosity behind the remaining 19th century free-standing mansions & terraces. I think I have a pic of the edifice, if so I'll send it to you when I can. It is lengthy & also high - lots of rich folks are crammed into that building.

For those not in the know, the BLF invented Green Bans. It's a bit hard for developers to destroy buildings or trees if the union that does the work refuses!

They were a militant left wing union, and made strange bed-fellows with the middle-class women who saved Duffy's Forest. It was one thing for left wingers & tree huggers to lay down in front of bulldozers, but imagine the fuss when nice ladies did the same AND got help from the BLF.

The current right wing government has done a lot to destroy union power in Oz. (ps. the previous so-called Labour govt did their bit, too.)

sandra

another ps. The FINGER WHARF at the Loo might be a Pier but is has never been called that. The Finger Wharf is the Finger Wharf - even tho rich folks live there in apartments & other rich folks dine or stay in the boutique hotel that shares the wharf with the apartments. In it's working days it was the embarkation point for Australian troops leaving for WWI & WWII.