Published on Monday, 16 February 2026 at 4:53:43 PM

Rare 1919 AWU Strike Coupons found at Workers’ Hall

A surprising discovery in Boulder, has brought new life to one of the most turbulent industrial clashes in the Goldfields’ past. A collection of original food coupons, issued to striking miners during the massive 1919 industrial dispute, has been discovered at the old Workers’ Hall and safely transferred to the Town Hall for preservation.

The find offers a vivid, tangible link to a time when Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s resilience was tested in ways that shaped the community for generations.

A strike that shaped the Goldfields

In November 1919, Kalgoorlie-Boulder faced one of the most disruptive periods in its early mining history. The Australian Workers Union (AWU) called one of the biggest strikes ever seen on the Golden Mile.

The dispute began when the AWU refused to recognise the Coolgardie Federated Miners’ Union (CFMU) under the State Conciliation and Arbitration Act. When miners were asked to show union cards as they arrived for shift, tensions escalated, and AWU members walked off the job.

Within hours, a full-scale shutdown swept across the mines. For more than two months, the dust settled over the headframes - an eerie pause for a community built on mining.

What followed was hardship. With no wages coming in, families suddenly found themselves unable to afford essentials - bread, meat, groceries – all became harder to secure. Bakers, grocers and butchers suddenly had no customers. The impact rippled beyond the mine gates.

Coupons that kept families fed

It was during this crisis that the Australian Workers Union (AWU), along with local supporters, created a coupon system that provided access to essential supplies. Miners could collect these simple paper slips from the Workers’ Hall and exchange them at local shops, allowing families to put food on the table and helping keep small businesses afloat.

These newly uncovered coupons remind us of the adaptability and determination of the early Goldfields communities, who found ways to support one another when times were toughest.  These traits of resilience and adaptability are still echoed through our community today.

The coupons are currently being catalogued and assessed for conservation. When this work is complete, the City hopes to showcase them in future exhibitions.

If you’d like to find out more, call in to see the City’s History Services team at the Boulder Town Hall, on Burt Street, Boulder.

Opening Hours

Mon-Fri: 10am - 4pm

Sat: 9am - 1pm

Pictured: Local History and Archives Officer, Timothy Moore, with the Discovery

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