David Temple was born on 4 July 1862 at Bald Hills, Creswick. Little is known of Temple’s early life except that he became a miner and part-time shearer. In April 1886 shearing rates were cut. A famous story recounts a conversation with his mother where he explained his loss of income and the unfairness of the cuts to rates. His mother told him that he should do what that Spence fellow has done and organise. Inspired by his mother’s advice, Temple placed notices in the Ballarat Courier and The Ballarat Star at his own expense, calling a meeting of shearers on 12 June at Fern's Hotel, Ballarat. Temple canvassed shearers on foot from house to house. He wrote regularly to local newspapers and, when shearing began, set off by train for Echuca. He carried his swag to Nyang station, owned by Sir Simon Fraser who did nothing to impede Temple's efforts to unionise his shed. Within five weeks, Temple enrolled 1500 members, engaged other organisers and, before shearing ended, the union had 8000 members.