BANNER OF THE AMALGAMATED MINERS' ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALASIA - MALDON NO. 14 BRANCH

 The Banner of the AMAA, Maldon No. 14 Branch.
 

 The Banner of the AMAA, Maldon No. 14 Branch is of historicalsignificance to the State of Victoria. It satisfies the followingcriteria for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register:
 
 Criterion A
 Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria's cultural history.
 
 Criterion B
 Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria'scultural history.
 
 Criterion D
 Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class ofcultural places and objects.
 

The Banner of the AMAA, Maldon No. 14 Branch is significant at the Statelevel for the following reasons:

 

The Banner of the AMAA, Maldon No. 14 is historically significant forits association with one of the earliest unions in Victoria, the AMA.The AMA became the AMAA, Australia's first national (intercolonial)union in 1884. The Banner of the AMAA, Maldon No. 14 is important indemonstrating the union's political and social aspirations and well asthe non-oppositional labour and capital ethos that was the definingfeature of the first Australian gold mining unions

 

The Banner of the AMAA, Maldon No. 14 Branch is the earliest known surviving trade union banner in Victoria. An estimated 200 union bannerswere created between 1856 and 1950 and there are now only twelve unionbanners known to survive in Victoria. The Banner of the AMAA, Maldon No.14 Branch is a rare historical document associated with an earlyintercolonial trade union for which there is little survivingdocumentary evidence.

 

The Banner of the AMAA, Maldon No. 14 Branch is a notable example of theclass of union banners. It is a fine and highly intact example of anineteenth century union banner and displays a large number ofcharacteristics which are typical of the class, including the materials,use of symbolic and political images and mottos, and the large scale anddesign. The design and sewing of the banner and the painting of theimagery and mottos are executed in a highly proficient manner