Bella Union Bar - Carlton

The minute you are walking up the historic blue stone stairs towards Belle Union Bar, you are stepping into history.The building itself is heritage listed on Australia's national register.It was here that the world's first 8 hour working day campaign was devised and won, along with many other major advancements in Australian and indeed world working conditions.The building is still the heart of Victoria's Trade Unions.If you go to Bella's Bar, you may even be able to organise a tour that will enable you to access the special treasures of this building, particularly if you are an active trade union member from interstate or overseas.The best time to meet local trade union activists in numbers is on Friday evenings from 5.00-7.00 pm when many gather fro social drinks, or prior to a Trades Hall Council Meeting on the first Thursday evening of each month around 6.00 pm!

Bella Bar is upstairs in the grand old Trades Hall building on the corner of Victoria Street and Lygon Street on the border of Melbourne city and the inner northern suburb of Carlton. It's a big, casual space with the bar across the back and a stage across the front. Over the years the bar has seen all kinds of people come and go and all kinds of gatherings and functions, including comedy, talks and launches.

Check out this lived-in performance space in Trades Hall Like all good performance venues, this one has some character.

Can you believe that there are hardly any reviews for Bella Union? This is unfair because this place is packed with awesomeness.

This restaurant is located in the trading hall, a separate area away from the left wing discussion group that occasionally takes place. I was particularly impressed with the bar at this restaurant.