Things to do in Barcaldine, Queensland – the best attractions

The best things to do in Barcaldine, Queensland, are visiting the Australian Workers’ Heritage Centre and Tree of Knowledge Memorial.

Best things to do in Barcaldine, Queensland

The best things to do in Barcaldine, Queensland are:

Visiting the Australian Workers’ Heritage Centre.
Paying tribute at the Tree of Knowledge Memorial.

Barcaldine as part of a road trip

Barcaldine is one of those outback Queensland towns that most tourists would have simply no cause to visit. It’s too far away from the much more appealing Queensland coast.

However, there are a couple of things to do in Barcaldine that make it more interesting that your average outback settlement. If you happen to be passing through on an outback Queensland road trip, it’s worth a stop.

The main street in Barcaldine, Queensland. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland

Where is Barcaldine, Queensland?

Barcaldine, Queensland, is on the Landsborough Highway, which stretches from Morven to Cloncurry. It’s the major sealed road linking the Flinders Highway and the Capricorn Highway. You’re most likely to drive along it if travelling from South-East Queensland to the Northern Territory. The quickest route from Brisbane to Darwin passes along the Landsborough Highway. You’ll reach Barcaldine after Augathella, Tambo and Blackall before continuing to Longreach, Winton and Kynuna. Go east, meanwhile, and the drive from Barcaldine to Emerald along the Capricorn Highway is 309km long.

Things to do in Barcaldine, Queensland: Australian Workers’ Heritage Centre

In Australia, Barcaldine is most famous as the place where the 1891 Shearers’ Strike began. This was a major milestone for organised labour in Australia, and led to the formation of the Australian Labor Party.

This is why you’ll find the Australian Workers’ Heritage Centre in Barcaldine. This museum covers much more than the Shearers’ Strike, however. Buildings, including the old Kunwarara Railway Station, have transplanted from across the country. This creates something of a village effect.

Inside the Australian Workers’ Heritage Centre, you can follow the stories of workers who helped shaped the country. These include the shearers, but also teachers, railwaymen and nurses.

The museum also covers the organised labour movement and industrial relations. Entry costs $19

Tree of Knowledge in Barcaldine, Queensland

However, the most famous attraction in Barcaldine is the Tree of Knowledge. This tall, silvery ghost gum tree outside the railway station was where the shearers would meet during the strike. In 1892, it was where the manifesto of the Queensland Labour Party was first read out.

Unfortunately, the Tree of Knowledge was poisoned in 2006. Now only the preserved stump remains, although other trees are now growing around Barcaldine from the cuttings of the original.

The preserved stump is still in place, surrounded by a striking memorial. The memorial takes the form of a cube, made from thousands of pieces of timber. The cube is elevated to make it look like the tree canopy.

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