Barcaldine - QLD

Barcaldine is well known as the Garden City of the West and has a population of approximately 1900. It is situated on the Central Western Railway line approximately 518 km west of Rockhampton.
Residentially Barcaldine is the best town in the Central West, with its fertile soil ideal for gardening, its parks and playgrounds, sporting fields, Olympic swimming pool, tree lined streets, hospital amenities, unrestricted water and electricity supplies and general civic pride. All streets are named after trees. The southern and eastern approaches to the town are sandy, though timbered and known as the desert country. The northern and western approaches are black soil and are referred to as the downs.
It is hard to imagine that this town was central to one of the more significant events in the political life of Australia: the shearers' strike of 1891, which played an important role in the events which led to the formation of the Australian Labor Party.

Attractions in Barcaldine

Tree of Knowledge Memorial: - Synonymous with the formation of the Labor Party and the union movement in Australia. It comprises an award winning architectural structure covering our heritage listed icon the ‘Tree of Knowledge’.

Australian Workers Heritage Centre: - Precinct which celebrates the working men and women of Australia. Contains 3 hectares of displays, a billabong, and gift shop.

Barcaldine and District Museum: - Historical Museum, displaying memorabilia from Barcaldine’s past.

Roses and Things: - Devonshire tea house, surrounded by over 1000 different rose bushes. (Closed in Wet Weather)

Masonic Lodge: - Historical building which has a uniquely painted façade.

St Peters Anglican Church: - contains some of beautiful stained glass windows.

Between the Bougainvillea’s Heritage Trail- Walking, cycling or driving track which encompasses all of the historical sites and building in Barcaldine.

Artesian Country Tours:- Local identity Tom Lockie operates a day trip to some of the most important culturally significant sites in the area. This includes Aboriginal and pioneer country and sites which no one else has access to.

Murals- Barcaldine has several Murals including one painted by D’Arcy Doyle.

Pub Crawl:- Barcaldine has 5 Hotels which on a hot day are a great place to relax and catch up with the locals.

Wildflower season:- August and early September sees an eruption of colour 40kms east of Barcaldine with the flowering of a number of native scrubs.

Radio Picture Theatre:- Built in the 1920s the Radio Picture Theatre is run totally by Volunteers. The Last movies are shown most weekends and the building is also used for the annual Arts Council Art Competition.

The Windmill:- Standing next to the Information Centre the Windmill built in 1917 was erected on the site of the first free flowing bore in Queensland.

Goat Racing: - Barcaldine is home to the Tree of Knowledge Festival every May Day long weekend. As part of this festival we hold the world’s richest goat races.

Artesian Water: - Like most towns in the Central West our water supply comes from the Great Artesian Basin. This water provides us with not only a valuable source of life but contributes to the lovely gardens and streetscapes in Barcaldine.