Tree of Knowledge (Australia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tree of Knowledge (Australia) |
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The Tree of Knowledge, Barcaldine, 1997
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| Location | Oak Street, Barcaldine, Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1891 - 1891 |
| Official name: Tree of Knowledge | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600021 |
| Significant period | 1891 (historical) |
| Significant components | memorial - plaque, flagpole/flagstaff, memorial/monument |
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The Tree of Knowledge was a very old ghost gum tree in Barcaldine, Australia. It was a special landmark because of its connection to an important time in Australia's history. Sadly, the tree was poisoned and died in 2006. It was about 200 years old and was officially listed as a heritage site in 1992.
This tree was a key meeting place during the 1891 Australian shearers' strike. This strike was a big event for workers' rights. The tree is also famous because the first ideas for the Australian Labor Party (ALP) were shared there in 1892. This party later became one of Australia's main political groups.
Contents
The Tree's Story
The Tree of Knowledge was a large ghost gum tree located right in front of the Barcaldine railway station. It became famous because workers involved in the 1891 Shearers' Strike often met under its shade. For many, especially those in the Labor Party and trade unions, this tree became a powerful symbol of how workers came together to fight for their rights in Queensland.
Barcaldine's Beginnings
The town of Barcaldine started in 1886. It became the end point of the Central Western railway. Before this, the area was mostly used by pastoralists, who were people who owned large sheep or cattle farms. These big farms were like small towns themselves, with places for workers to live and work.
The owners of these large stations had a lot of power. They could decide the pay and working conditions for their workers, especially the sheep shearers who moved around for the shearing season. Workers often faced poor conditions, low pay, and worries about cheaper labour from other places. This made many workers unhappy.
How Unions Started Here
Barcaldine was a natural place for unions to grow. Because it was the railway's end, many seasonal workers, like shearers and railway builders, came through the town. It was hard for them to find steady work, and many faced money problems. This helped them feel a sense of "mateship" and support for each other.
- In 1887, the Central Queensland Carriers Union was formed. People say early talks for this union happened under the very gum tree that offered shade to carriers waiting at the station.
- Around the same time, the Queensland Shearers' Union was created. It quickly gained many members, showing that workers felt they needed to join together to get fair pay and better conditions.
- In 1888, the Central Queensland Labourers' Union was also formed in Barcaldine. These three unions were very important in leading the big strike of 1891.
The Great Shearers' Strike of 1891
In 1889, a group called the Pastoral Employers' Association was formed in Barcaldine. They wanted to lower workers' pay. In response, many more workers joined the unions. By 1891, union representatives gathered in Barcaldine for meetings. The employers started asking shearers to sign contracts that would stop them from joining unions.
This led to a strike. Employers began bringing in workers who were not part of the unions. Strikers, some of whom had weapons, gathered in Barcaldine. They set up camps outside the town.
The Queensland Government sent police and soldiers to the area. The strikers responded by marching and holding torchlight processions in town. Since non-union workers, police, and soldiers usually arrived by train, the strikers would gather outside the railway station to protest. This made the Tree of Knowledge, right in front of the station, a central spot for many meetings and protests.
In March 1891, the situation became more serious. Other workers, like carriers and railway workers, stopped working to show their support. More soldiers arrived. Barcaldine became the focus of the whole country, and people expected armed conflict. However, heavy rain made it hard to move around, and union leaders were arrested. This caused the strike to lose momentum, and strikers began to leave. On June 15, the strike officially ended.
Even though the strike failed to achieve its immediate goals, it had a huge impact on Australia's future. The next year, T.J. Ryan became the first worker representative elected to the Queensland Parliament. Then, in 1892, right at the foot of the Tree of Knowledge, the "Manifesto of the Queensland Labour Party" was read aloud. This led to the official formation of the Labor Party in Queensland. This manifesto is seen as one of the founding documents of today's Australian Labor Party.
A Symbol of History
Because so many important events for workers' rights and Australian politics happened under the Tree of Knowledge, it became a powerful symbol for the Labor Party and trade unions. It is also very important to the people of Barcaldine. It represents their town's identity and its historical significance.
People in Barcaldine cared deeply for the tree. In 1990, they found out the tree was sick with termites and other insects. Experts worked hard to save it, treating it and giving it lots of water. This helped the tree for a few more years.
In 1991, Barcaldine held big celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Shearers' Strike. For this event, the area around the tree was improved, and a special memorial was built to remember the strikers.
The Tree's Sad End
In 2006, someone poisoned the tree using a chemical called glyphosate, which is found in weed killers like RoundUp. An expert declared the tree dead on October 3, 2006. The Labor Party even offered a reward for information about who did it.
The remains of the tree were carefully removed in July 2007. The tree's trunk, which was about 7 meters tall and 2 meters wide, was taken to a special place for preservation.
Good news is that several small plants were grown from cuttings of the tree before it died. These "clones" are now growing in Barcaldine. In 2008, experts successfully cloned the tree. A clone has also been planted in Brisbane.
A new memorial was built where the original tree stood. It cost about A$5 million and was opened on May 2, 2009. This memorial won important awards for its design and how it honored the site's history.
In 2009, as part of Queensland's 150th birthday celebrations (Q150), the Tree of Knowledge was named one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland. This was because of its important role as a historical location.
In 2011, Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, helped plant a tree grown from an original cutting of the Tree of Knowledge at the National Arboretum Canberra.
What the Tree Looked Like
The Tree of Knowledge was a ghost gum tree located outside the railway station in Barcaldine's main street. Old photos show it had a wider top than it did when it died.
At the base of the tree, there is a plaque that says:
This plaque commemorates the loyalty, courage, and sacrifice in 1891 of the stalwart men and women of the west from whom, beneath this tree, emerged Australia's labour and political movement.
The Tree of Knowledge is now protected by a modern metal fence. The area around it has a low fence made of logs and is decorated with flowering plants. There is also a flagpole and a monument made of bronze and granite. This monument looks like shearer's blades and was put up in 1991 to celebrate 100 years since the Shearers' Strike.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Tree of Knowledge was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it is considered very important to Queensland's history and culture.
Important in History
The Tree of Knowledge was a key place during the Shearers' Strike in 1891. This event was a major moment in Queensland's history, showing the struggle between employers and workers. The strike was a turning point for the development of the workers' movement and the creation of the Australian Labor Party.
Special to the Community
The Tree of Knowledge is strongly connected to the identity of Barcaldine. It has a very special meaning for the people who live there.
Linked to Important Groups
The Tree of Knowledge has a special link to the history of the Australian Labor Party and the trade union movement in Queensland.
