May 3, 2026 · 12 min · 11 segments
Tiny Sparks and Turning Points is a monthly selection of protests, strikes and significant dates concerning social change in Australian history. This was the segment for May. It was produced by the…
As part of global commemorations celebrating workers' power and protesting the sentencing of Chicago labour activists to death, Australian anarchists and other radicals held the nation's first May Day celebrations on the 1st of May, 1887.
The shift from private to public events occurred with a march in Brisbane four years later where around 1,000 people attended a rally, some marching with blue sashes and eureka flags.
Thereafter, May Day grew in importance and size across Australia as an annual event.
On 1 May 2001, thousands of people took part in a May 1 May Day march in Melbourne, successfully closing down the Stock Exchange.
On 2 May 2007, environmentalists blockaded trucks at Chilora, which were transporting cyanide to the Barrick gold mine at Lake Cowall.
On 5 May 1980, 30 people were arrested during a demonstration against Western Australia's 54B anti-protest laws.
These made it illegal to convene public meetings of more than three people without a police permit.
On 5 May 2014, university students disrupted an appearance by then Education Minister Christopher Pyne on the ABC's Q&A program.
Protesting against university fees, they unfurled a banner that read, More brains, not warplanes.
As part of global commemorations celebrating workers' power and protesting the sentencing of Chicago labour activists to death, Australian anarchists and other radicals held the nation's first May Day celebrations on the 1st of May, 1887.
The shift from private to public events occurred with a march in Brisbane four years later where around 1,000 people attended a rally, some marching with blue sashes and eureka flags.
Thereafter, May Day grew in importance and size across Australia as an annual event.
On 1 May 2001, thousands of people took part in a May 1 May Day march in Melbourne, successfully closing down the Stock Exchange.
On 2 May 2007, environmentalists blockaded trucks at Chilora, which were transporting cyanide to the Barrick gold mine at Lake Cowall.
On 5 May 1980, 30 people were arrested during a demonstration against Western Australia's 54B anti-protest laws.
These made it illegal to convene public meetings of more than three people without a police permit.
On 5 May 2014, university students disrupted an appearance by then Education Minister Christopher Pyne on the ABC's Q&A program.
Protesting against university fees, they unfurled a banner that read, More brains, not warplanes.
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