And your petitioners humbly pray ...

Sundays

Baking on Sundays 1857

Presented by James Service MP

The Master Bakers and residents of Melbourne requested in this petition that Sunday trading by bakers be abolished so that they and their workers could have the opportunity to observe the Sabbath. This is the first of a number of petitions in this exhibition that relate to Sunday trading laws. Sunday baking specifically recurs as the subject of a petition in 1979.

Sundays 1874

Presented by George Higinbotham MP

Residents of the city and suburbs of Melbourne supported the Sunday opening of public libraries, museums and art galleries in their petition. They claimed that these institutions provided avenues for continuing education and personal development, and that Sunday openings would allow working people access to these opportunities.

The prospect of Sunday openings came into direct conflict with the conservative views of many in the church, the government and the public. There was a strongly held belief that it undermined the integrity of the Christian Sabbath.

This petition attracted 19,556 signatures, at a time when the population of Victoria was just over 800,000. Despite public meetings to encourage support, low attendance at trial Sunday openings and the high cost of labour helped stall the implementation of extended opening hours.

Baking on Sundays 1979

Presented by Jeffrey Kennett MP

In 1857, bakers petitioned Parliament to prohibit Sunday baking so that they could observe the Christian Sabbath. In this petition, 120 years later, residents of Melbourne complained that some large Melbourne bakeries had stopped making fresh bread on Sundays. They reminded MPs that legislation permitted the baking and distributing of ‘Sunday bread’ and requested that action be taken to ensure that it remained available.

Victorian Football League Sunday Matches 1981

Presented by John Cain (junior) MP

Several petitions in this exhibition deal with the issue of commerce and availability of public entertainment on Sundays. Here, petitioners opposed the introduction of Sunday VFL matches, claiming it would “severely affect Victorian family life”. The Victorian Government opposed Sunday VFL matches throughout the 1980s. However, by the end of the decade, Sunday matches had become entrenched.

PROV, VPRS 3253/P0, Unit 158

Poster - Travel by train to Sunday football games. VPRS 12903/P1, Box 686/32