Herald Sun | Not just a day off: The history behind our Labour Day holiday Herald Sun IT'S the perfect excuse to get away for a short break or head into the city to watch the Moomba Parade but the Labour Day holiday has some history behind it. During the mid 1800s the working day was long — some people working for up to 12 hours a day, ... Labour Day 2017 public holiday guide: What's open and what's on in Melbourne |