From the Archives at the Guyra Museum Compiled by Dorothy Lockyer

Group of men and boys from the ‘Country Volunteer Camp’ gathered in front of the Brewongle Stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Image: Australian War Memorial P09919.001

11th Nov 2025

The Guyra Giants
and the Great Strike of 1917
The year was 1917, the country was still at war and the biggest strike in Australian history began. It was to last more than two months, from 2nd August until the last workers drifted back to work on 15th October, and involved more than 100,000 workers – at a time when the total population in Australia was less than 5 million.
It was one of the most important industrial and political confrontations in Australian history. It shook the country to the core, and prompted cries of “revolution” from both sides of the struggle. Strike-breakers were recruited by the government and employer groups, leading to bitter conflict between striking workers and “volunteer” scabs.
In a military-style operation, strike-breakers, called “loyalists” were brought in from all around the State and concentrated at Taronga Zoo and the Sydney Cricket Ground. To strike veterans, SCG stood for Scabs’ Collecting Ground.
Among the strike breakers were a group that came to be known as the ‘Guyra Giants’. Community leaders answered the call and organised teams who travelled to Sydney to help keep the country running
From the Guyra Argus 23rd August 1917. The Strike: On Monday night 51 volunteers from Guyra and District left for Sydney by the Brisbane Mail train to place their services at the disposal of the Government during the present strike. Among the volunteers were many of the most prominent men in the district.
Yesterday Mr. T.E Sole, Hon. Secretary of the local branch of the Farmers & Settlers Association, received a wire from Mr. L.P. Dutton to the following effects: “On wharf; all together; things comfortable; more men urgently needed; roll up.”
Notwithstanding the fact that there are something like 5,500 volunteers from the country loyally assisting the Government to carry out its services, Mr. Dutton’s telegram indicates there is still need for more men. In this unparalleled crisis, which is more than an industrial upheaval - a rebellion against legitimate authority and the Government of the country - every man who can possibly render assistance to the State should give a helping hand. Mr Sole informs us that a second contingent has been mobilised locally and will leave for Sydney on Saturday night. Those of you are willing to volunteer, but who have not yet done so, should at once hand in their names to Mr. Sole who will make all necessary arrangement for their passage to Sydney.
Guyra Argus 30th August.1917 The Strike: It is four weeks today since the railway workmen at Everleigh and Randwick workshop suspended work as a protest against the time-card system, which the commissioners deemed necessary to introduce in the interest of the great department they control.
In it to the finish: - Thus Tuesday’s Sydney Daily Telegraph. We were glad to see what the Daily Telegraph had to say about “The Guyra Giants” (strike volunteers) said Mr. Dutton, President of the Guyra Shire, who is “Captain” of the district representatives who live in the shadow of Black Mountain and Ben Lomond, the highest points in Australia on which there is a Government railway, and from whence potatoes literally spring. “We expect another 20 to-morrow, and a further batch is to leave on Monday night. We will be 80 strong then. Two or three of our lot may have to go back on urgent business, but they will not leave here till others, their own nominees, have come to take their place. Apart from that, we are all in it to the finish. We have two good henchmen dispatching the men from Guyra, Dr Harris & Mr. T.E. Sole, and they’ll keep reinforcement up to the mark in numbers and in efficiency. As you know, there are three shire councillors here from Guyra.
Under the heading “The Guyra Giants” Sydney Daily Telegraph says:- The cold country around Ben Lomond produces giants in frame and intellect. There are three councilors of Guyra Shire in camp, Cr. L.P. Dutton (president) of Urandangie Station; Mr A.W. Everett, of Ollera Station and owner of large property in the Curlewis district; and Cr A.E. Ward, proprietor of the palatial Royal Hotel at Guyra. Then there is Mr. G.A. Spicer, a mixed farmer who shipped on the ‘Hall Caine’ the day he arrived. On Thursday he took his trick at the wheel of the steamer at nightfall and stayed on till she swung through Pyrmont Bridge at 2 next morning, doing his mate’s shift as well as his own because Nature had not presented that other individual with a pair of sea-legs. “What do you think of that for a ‘gum leaves’ like Spicer? Asked one of the crew who “saw him do it”.
Other Guyra men at voluntary work are Messrs Fred Sole, James Drabsch, and R. Simpson, of Beulah Station, who is in charge of the men.

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From the Archives at the Guyra Museum Compiled by Dorothy Lockyer

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