Barcaldine, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barcaldine Queensland
Barcaldine, 1962
Barcaldine Location in Queensland
Population	1,540 (2021 census)
• Density	2.065/km2 (5.35/sq mi)
Established	1885
Postcode(s)	4725
Elevation	266.9 m (876 ft)
Area	745.7 km2 (287.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	580 km (360 mi) W of Rockhampton 1,072 km (666 mi) NW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Barcaldine Region
County	Rodney
State electorate(s)	Gregory
Federal Division(s)	Maranoa
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 30.0 °C 86 °F 16.2 °C 61 °F 497.7 mm 19.6 in
Localities around Barcaldine: Ilfracombe Aramac Jericho Ilfracombe Barcaldine Jericho Ilfracombe Blackall Blackall

Barcaldine (/bɑːrˈkɔːldɪn/ bar-KAWL-din) is a rural town and locality in the Barcaldine Region in Queensland, Australia. This is the administrative centre of the Barcaldine Region. Barcaldine played a major role in the Australian labour movement. In the 2021 census, Barcaldine had a population of 1,540 people.

Geography

Barcaldine is approximately 520 kilometres (320 mi) by road west of the city of Rockhampton. The town is situated on Lagoon Creek, which flows into the Alice River approximately five kilometres south of the Barcaldine. This is the administrative centre of the Barcaldine Region. Major industries are sheep and beef cattle rearing.

The streets in Barcaldine are named after different types of trees.

History

The town takes its name from a sheep station called Barcaldine Downs, which was established in 1863 by Donald Cameron, whose family property in Ayrshire, Scotland, which was named for Barcaldine, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.

Tree of Knowledge marker in Barcaldine

Barcaldine Post Office opened on 13 November 1886.

Barcaldine State School opened on 4 July 1887.

Labour movement

Barcaldine played a significant role in the Australian labour movement and the birth of the Australian Labor Party. In 1891, it was one of the focal points of the 1891 Australian shearers' strike, with the Eureka Flag flying over the strike camp. The landmark Tree of Knowledge, under which the strikers met, stood outside the railway station. In 2006, persons unknown poisoned the tree with the herbicide Roundup, which led to its demise.

One of the first May day marches in the world took place during the strike on 1 May 1891 in Barcaldine. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that of the 1,340 men that took part, 618 were mounted on horses. Banners carried included those of the Australian Labor Federation, the Shearers' and Carriers' Unions, and one inscribed 'Young Australia'. The leaders wore blue sashes and the Eureka Flag was carried. The Labor Bulletin reported that cheers were given for "the Union", "the Eight-hour day", "the Strike Committee" and "the boys in gaol".

Local government

Barcaldine War Memorial, 1928

In 1892, the local government area of Barcaldine Division was established, by separating it from the Kargoolnah Division which had its headquarters in Blackall. Since then, Barcaldine has been the headquarters of local government in the area, commencing with the Barcaldine Divisional Board, which became the Barcaldine Shire Council in 1903, and then the Barcaldine Regional Council in 2008. The initial local government meetings were held in a building in Oak Street, which burned down in 1896. A shire hall was then constructed in 1898 on the south-east corner of Ash and Beech Streets, which eventually became too small. In February 1912 a new larger shire hall was opened and that building (somewhat modified and extended) is still in use today and is heritage-listed.

Hydrotherapy

The artesian water at Barcaldine is full of minerals. A bore had been constructed in 1887, but was unsuitable for the water needs of the steam locomotives and so the water was let run to waste. By 1891, a local doctor observed that water contained soda and potash which he believed would have health benefits. In 1907, a swimming pool using the artesian water was built by the Barcaldine Shire Council, along with baths and showers for therapeutic use. Although Barcaldine was being promoted as a spa town into the mid 1930s, interest in "taking the waters" declined after that period as medical opinion became increasingly doubtful of the benefits of mineral waters, favouring drugs and physiotherapy as better treatments.

War memorial

The Barcaldine War Memorial was unveiled by Queensland Governor, Matthew Nathan, on 21 May 1924.

Population

At the 2006 census, Barcaldine had a population of 1,337.

Labour movement

Tree of Knowledge marker in Barcaldine

The Tree of Knowledge, 1997

Barcaldine played a significant role in the Australian labour movement and the birth of the Australian Labor Party. In 1891, it was one of the focal points of the 1891 Australian shearers' strike, with the Eureka Flag flying over the strike camp. The landmark Tree of Knowledge, under which the strikers met, stood outside the railway station. In 2006, persons unknown poisoned the tree with the herbicide Roundup, which led to its demise.

One of the first May Day marches in the world took place during the strike on 1 May 1891 in Barcaldine. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that of the 1,340 men that took part, 618 were mounted on horses. Banners carried included those of the Australian Labor Federation, the Shearers' and Carriers' Unions, and one inscribed 'Young Australia'. The leaders wore blue sashes and the Eureka Flag was carried. The Labor Bulletin reported that cheers were given for "the Union", "the Eight-hour day", "the Strike Committee" and "the boys in gaol". On the 9 September 1892 the Manifesto of the Queensland Labour Party was read out under the well known Tree of Knowledge at Barcaldine following the Great Shearers' Strike. The State Library of Queensland now holds the manifesto, in 2008 the historic document was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Australian Register and in 2009, the document was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World International Register.

The Australian Workers Heritage Centre opened in Barcaldine in 1991 as a museum to pay tribute to Australian workers.

Heritage listings

St Peter's Anglican Church, 2010

Barcaldine has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Barcaldine Shire Hall, Ash Street
• Barcaldine War Memorial Clock, Ash Street
• Shearers' Strike Camp Site, Bank of Lagoon Creek
• Barcaldine Masonic Temple, 39 Beech Street
• St Peter's Anglican Church and Hall, 85 Elm Street
• Tree of Knowledge, Oak Street

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the town of Barcaldine had a population of 1,316 people, while the locality had a population of 1,655 people.

In the 2016 census, the locality of Barcaldine had a population of 1,422 people.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Barcaldine had a population of 1,540 people.

Climate

Education

Barcaldine Prep-12 State School is a government primary and secondary (Early Childhood to Year 12) school for boys and girls at Gidyea Street (23°33′32″S 145°17′38″E / 23.5588°S 145.2940°E / -23.5588; 145.2940 (Barcaldine Prep-12 State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 284 students with 29 teachers (27 full-time equivalent) and 22 non-teaching staff (16 full-time equivalent).

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 23 Willow Street (23°33′22″S 145°17′10″E / 23.5562°S 145.2862°E / -23.5562; 145.2862 (St Joseph's Catholic Primary School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 26 students with 5 teachers (4 full-time equivalent) and 3 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).

Wanpa-rda Matilda Outback Education Centre is an Outdoor and Environmental Education Centre at the corner of Ash and Willow Streets (23°33′13″S 145°17′13″E / 23.5535°S 145.2870°E / -23.5535; 145.2870 (Wanpa-rda Matilda Outback Education Centre)).

Media

Barcaldine has only one commercial radio station, West FM (Resonate Radio), which transmits on 100.9 FM.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation transmits ABC TV and its sister channels ABC Kids, ABC TV Plus, ABC Me and ABC News through its relay station, ABBQ.

The Seven Network and its sister channels 7two, 7Mate and 7Flix transmit to Barcaldine through its regional area affiliate, ITQ.

The Nine Network and its sister channels 9Gem, 9Go! and 9Rush transmit to Barcaldine through its regional area affiliate, IMP.

Network Ten and its sister channels 10 Bold, 10 Peach and 10 Shake transmit to Barcaldine through its regional area affiliate, CDT.

The Special Broadcasting Service and its sister channels SBS Viceland, SBS World Movies and SBS Food also transmit to Barcaldine.

Amenities

Barcaldine has a bowls, tennis clubs, a combined racecourse and showground near the golf course, a historical and folk museum, swimming pool and visitor information centre.

Barcaldine Regional Council operates a library at 71 Ash Street, with a high-speed ISDN broadband Internet connection to Brisbane (via the National Broadband Network).

The Barcaldine branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association has its rooms at 5 Maple Street (corner of Ash Street, 23°33′14″S 145°17′28″E / 23.5540°S 145.2910°E / -23.5540; 145.2910 (Barcaldine CWA Hall)).

Barcaldine Uniting Church is at 7-9 Maple Street (23°33′17″S 145°17′28″E / 23.5547°S 145.2910°E / -23.5547; 145.2910 (7 May 2021)).

Attractions

The attractions in Barcaldine include:

• the Tree of Knowledge
• the Australian Workers Heritage Centre
• the Barcaldine and District Historical Museum