Factsheet 01 – Why have some trees become ‘living monuments’?

Australian Curriculum Links

Year Subject Curriculum Links 5 Geography ACHGK028, ACHGK029, ACHGK030 History ACHHK094, ACHH095, ACHHK097 Quirky fact : Science ACSSU043 The first meeting of 6 History ACHHK116, ACHHK114 Science ACSSU094 the Australian Labor 7 Geography ACHGK038 Party was held under Science ACSSU112 a gum tree in 1891. 8 Geography ACHGK049, ACHGK052, ACHGK056

Background Information Historic trees are a living but very vulnerable part of our However, the tree gained its enduring status as a historical heritage. Even though trees may live for hundreds of years, landmark in May 1891, when Barcaldine became the centre for they eventually die. Trees of cultural and historical importance the ‘Great Shearers’ Strike’. Numbers vary, but it is thought to are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. that up to 3,000 striking shearers unified under the rebel These trees are connected to milestone events and significant ‘Eureka’ flag, to protest against poor working conditions and people in history. low wages. Thirteen of their leaders were subsequently arrested The Tree of Knowledge at Barcaldine is perhaps Australia’s and sentenced to three-year terms of imprisonment. From this most famous tree. From early settlement days this majestic tumultuous period came the beginnings of what is now the ghost gum, a Papuana, attracted special attention Australian Labor Party. becoming popular as a community meeting place. The tree There were no organised political parties in those days. Instead, was first known as the ‘Alleluia Tree’, so called because local politically-minded citizens formed alliances on different issues members of the Salvation Army congregated to worship under its branches. Bullock drivers who were constantly on the move as they arose. The Labor Party changed this by forcing non- throughout Western Queensland also used the tree as place to Labor politicians to form political parties to oppose it. The gather and swap yarns and news from along the trails. Australian Labor Party was the nation’s first political party and is one of the oldest political parties in the western world. Beside the tree is a monument in the shape of a pair of shears which reads: Honour the men and women of the Labour movement who congregated in this area and, through their courage, determination and dedication to the principles, ideals and objectives of the labour movement, played a leading role in the formation of the Labor Party and further spearheaded the many reforms that resulted in the vastly improved way of life for the Australian people generally. Believed to be between 160 and 190 years old, the Tree of Knowledge was poisoned by parties unknown in 2006. The tree was removed and a sapling, propagated from the original, is now growing at the Australian Workers Heritage Centre. Ironically, the Tree of Knowledge also achieved National Heritage listing in 2006. A memorial has been erected to commemorate the history of the Tree of Knowledge and its significance to the Australian Labor Party, Barcaldine and Tree of Knowledge, Barcaldine Queensland.

52 Outback Queensland Education Handbook | Australian Curriculum Factsheets Other Trees ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Burke and Wills Dig Tree — Barcaldine Shire Council Library Moonah Creek ‘Hanging Tree’ — Ardmore Station, Mount Isa Phone: (07) 4651 1170 Email: [email protected] Robber’s Tree — Cunnamulla Sir Sidney Kidman’s Tree of Knowledge — Glengyle Station near Birdsville Department of Environment and Heritage Protection Tree of Knowledge — Camooweal www.ehp.qld.gov.au/heritage/qld-register/ Hodgkinson’s Marked Tree — Mount Isa index.html

REFERENCES Inquiry Questions Department of Education www.cap.nsw.edu.au Subject Years Questions Department of Environment and Geography 5/6 Why are trees such an important part of both Heritage Protection natural and built environment in the Outback? www.ehp.qld.gov.au/heritage/qld-register/ index.html Why are fires and floods so significant in the Outback and how do people respond to them? Barcaldine Shire Council www.barcaldinerc.qld.gov.au

7/8 How do trees tell the stories of the way different Commonwealth Department of people have engaged with these landscapes, Sustainability, Environment, including how they exploited or protected them? Water, Population and Communities www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/ History 5/6 Why have trees become symbols of significant national/tree/index.html events in this area? FURTHER INFORMATION Which historic events from the Outback have Australian Workers Heritage Centre national significance? PO Box 10, Barcaldine QLD 4725 Phone: (07) 4651 2422 Science 7 What are the roles of trees in the food chain, and Email: barcy@ how have human activities affected this? australianworkersheritagecentre.com.au Wanpa-rda Matilda Outback Educational Centre Points of Interest PO Box 26, Barcaldine QLD 4725 Australian Workers Heritage Centre, Barcaldine Phone: (07) 4651 2530 The Australian Workers Heritage Centre is the only national attraction dedicated to Email: [email protected] celebrating the lives and proud heritage of ordinary working people – telling the stories of the railway workers and blacksmiths, the farmers, nurses and teachers who shaped the nation. 64 STAMFORD Ash Street, Barcaldine QLD 4725 144 MOORRINYA NATIONAL Cost: Fees apply 67 PARK 360 Hours: 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Saturday CORFIELD 205 248 r 10.00am to 4.00pm Sunday e v Townsville i Phone: (07) 4651 2422 R 83 FORESTMt Isa DEN o Email: [email protected] Rockhamptond NATIONALLongreach n WINTON PARK a

Website: www.australianworkersheritagecentre.com.au y l

Charleville e The Barcaldine and District Historical Museum, Barcaldine MUTTABURRA BRISBANEB 89 63 LAKE DUNN Wanpa-rda Matilda Outback Educational Centre, Barcaldine BLADENSBURG 22 67 NATIONAL i v e r Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage 179 116 R 125 PARK ARAMAC e c i Centre, Longreach l 100 A OPALTON 67 Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach 27 LONGREACH ILFRACOMBE BARCALDINE r JERICHO Waltzing Matilda Centre, Winton e v i 80 R 87 53 Visit the Tree of Knowledge Memorial, n ALPHA LOCHERN s o NATIONAL m 89 101 on Oak Street in Barcaldine o PARK h 151 T 44 106 120 121 46 ISISFORD 104 112 BLACKALL STONEHENGE 102 47 r 12 e 114 67 v 52 42 i 101 R EMMET IDALIA JUNDAH o o NATIONAL c YARAKA r PARK 120 a TAMBO B 50 94 r e 209 v WELFORD i R 52 NATIONAL 119

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Outback Queensland Education Handbook | Australian Curriculum Factsheets 53