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Ellen Creswell (?–?)

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This entry is from People Australia

Cresswell, Ellen (?-?) tailoress and trade union leader 

Birth: unknown. Marriage: unknown, Had 3 children. Death: unknown 

  • Tailoress in Melbourne from 1870, widowed in 1860, with three young children.
  • Victimised for participation in 1879 strike, active in 1882-3 Victorian tailoress strike, being one of five tailoresses on joint committee with Melbourne THC to manage strike.
  • Gave evidence to Victorian Royal Commission on factories in 1882.
  • Was vice-president and later president of Victorian Tailoress's Union.
  • Last reference found for her dated March 1893. Possibly she was the Mrs Cresswell who departed Melbourne for London aboard the RMS Cuzco on 2 March 1895 with two children and an infant.

Labour History, No. 36 May 1979, No. 44, May 1983; Rae Frances, The politics of work. Gender and labour in Victoria 1880-1939 (Cambridge, 1993).

Original Publication

Citation details

'Creswell, Ellen (?–?)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://labouraustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/creswell-ellen-33837/text42382, accessed 10 May 2025.

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