QLDRail & telegraph
Barcaldine
Businesses followed the moving railhead.
1886Western railway terminus · town develops
WHAT STARTED IT
Barcaldine developed when the Central Queensland railway reached its new western terminus in 1886. Businesses relocated from earlier railheads, supplying travellers, railway workers and the surrounding wool stations.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
The shearers’ strike of 1891 made the town a landmark in Australian labour history. The Tree of Knowledge associated with union meetings was poisoned in 2006; a large memorial opened around its preserved remains in 2009.
TURNING POINTS
1886Railway terminus creates the town.
1891Shearers’ strike.
2009Tree of Knowledge memorial opens.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
A service town for the central-west pastoral district, with labour history museums and the Tree of Knowledge memorial shaping its visitor identity.