William Story

William Harrison Story (31 May 1857 – 13 July 1924) was an Australian builder, trade unionist and politician. He was a Senator for South Australia from 1904 to 1917 and then represented the seat of Bootby in the House of Representatives from 1917 to 1922. He was one of the founders of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in South Australia, but left the party during the 1916 split over conscription and subsequently joined the new Nationalist Party. He was a bricklayer and mason by profession, later starting his own building and contracting firm. He also served as mayor of Kensington and Norwood from 1901 to 1903.

Early life Story was born on 31 May 1857 in Mitcham, South Australia. He was the son of Eliza (née Morgan) and George Story; his father was employed as a gardener at the time of his birth but later became a municipal clerk.

Story spent his early years at Norton Summit where his father was gardener to Thomas Playford. He attended the Norton Summit State School and was then apprenticed as a bricklayer and mason. He became active in the labour movement as president of the Operative Masons' and Bricklayers' Society, also serving as the union's delegate to the United Trades and Labour Council of South Australia (UTLC's). He joined the UTLC's committee in 1884. He also served as president of the South Australian Builders' and Contractors' Association from 1902 to 1904.

Story was a strong supporter of union preference during debate on the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904. He was an advocate of developing the Australian manufacturing industry, but was opposed to industrial monopolies and supported nationalisation or government control over industry.

Personal life In 1880, Story married Sarah Malcolm, with whom he had eight children. His youngest son Ward was killed in World War I. He had been a resident of Norwood for nearly 40 years at the time of his death there on 13 July 1924, aged 67.