A politician’s bag

This satchel belonged to Andrew Alexander Kirkpatrick. He was born in London in 1848 and migrated to South Australia with his mother in 1860.

A printer, he helped form the United Trades and Labor Council in 1884 and supported the Eight Hours Movement. He was one of three men who were part of the first Labor government to be elected to parliament in South Australia, and between 1909 and 1914 he served as South Australia’s first Labor agent-general in London.

History Trust of South Australia, HT 2016.1244