Barcaldine, Queensland

Coordinates: 23°33′25″S 145°17′18″E / 23.55694°S 145.28833°E / -23.55694; 145.28833
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Barcaldine
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)[2] is a rural town and locality in the Barcaldine Region in Queensland, Australia.[3][4] 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.[5]

Geography

Barcaldine is in

Alice River approximately five kilometres south of the Barcaldine. Major industries are sheep and beef cattle rearing. The streets in Barcaldine are named after different types of trees.[6]

History

Barcaldine lay on the traditional tribal lands of the

The first European to enter the area was

The town takes its name from a

South Sea Islander labour was utilised in the 1860s and 1870s.[12][13]

The first town lots were sold in 1885 and within a year several buildings were under construction. By the end of 1886 the town had been surveyed.

Central Western railway line to Barcaldine opened on 8 November 1886.[15]

Barcaldine Post Office opened on 13 November 1886.[16]

The

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.[18]

In 1887 a Methodist church was erected in Ash Street, Barcaldine, the first church in the town. The church building had previously been used at a number of railway camps involved in the construction the

Central Western railway line. As each new segment of the line was completed, the camp and the church building were relocated to the new railhead. Barcaldine was its final location. In 1893 a new wooden church was erected in Maple Street. The foundation stone for the current brick church was laid on 1 July 1961 by Reverend Joseph Tainton, President of the Queensland Methodist Conference, with the former wooden church beside it becoming the church hall. In 1977 following the amalgamation that created the Uniting Church in Australia, the Barcaldine Methodist Church became the Barcaldine Uniting Church.[19]

Barcaldine State School opened on 4 July 1887.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School was opened in 1896 by Sisters of Mercy, specifically Sister Mary Muredach McMullen (superior), Sister Mary Catherine Cleary, and Sister Mary Fayne, with the assistance of lay teacher Catherine Lobie. The original building had two storeys with the sisters living upstairs and the classrooms downstairs. In 1906 a new school building was erected to accommodate the school's 195 students. The current school building opened on 21 October 1962.[21][23][24][25]

Barcaldine War Memorial, 1928

In August 1909, a devastating fire destroyed buildings in Oak Street, including a general store (J. Dias), a saddlery (H. A. Hawthorne) and the Welcome Home Hotel (W. Kemp).[26][27]

The Barcaldine War Memorial was unveiled by

Queensland Governor, Matthew Nathan, on 21 May 1924.[28]

In the

2011 census, the town of Barcaldine had a population of 1,316 people,[29] while the locality had a population of 1,655 people.[30]

The current Barcaldine Public Library opened in 2016.[31]

In the 2016 census, Barcaldine had a population of 1,422 people.[32]

On 26 May 2019, Barcaldine set a world record for a 9.5-kilometre (5.9 mi) line of 868 motorhomes, caravans, campervans and fifth wheelers outside the town, beating the previous record of 672 vehicles in Italy in 2003.[33]

On 22 November 2019, the Queensland Government decided to amalgamate the localities in the Barcaldine Region, resulting in five expanded localities based on the larger towns: Alpha, Aramac, Barcaldine, Jericho and Muttaburra. Barcaldine was expanded to incorporate Barcaldine Downs, Evora, Grant (all except for the eastern corner), Home Creek, Ingberry (southern part), Moombria, Narbethong (all except for the north-eastern corner), Patrick, Saltern Creek, and Tara Station.[34][35][36]

In the 2021 census, Barcaldine had a population of 1,540 people.[5]

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

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". It reported the march:

In the procession every civilised country was represented doing duty for the Russian, Swede, French, Dane etc., who are germane to him in other climes, showing that Labor's cause is one the world over, foreshadowing the time when the swords shall be turned into ploughshares and Liberty, Peace and Friendship will knit together the nations of the earth.

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,[37] 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.[38]

The Australian Workers Heritage Centre opened in Barcaldine in 1991 as a museum to pay tribute to Australian workers.[39]

Heritage listings

St Peter's Anglican Church, 2010

Barcaldine has a number of

heritage-listed
sites, including:

Climate

Barcaldine, Queensland, Australia
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
84
 
 
36
24
 
 
87
 
 
35
23
 
 
45
 
 
34
22
 
 
21
 
 
31
18
 
 
16
 
 
27
13
 
 
23
 
 
24
10
 
 
13
 
 
24
9
 
 
14
 
 
26
11
 
 
24
 
 
30
15
 
 
27
 
 
33
19
 
 
58
 
 
35
21
 
 
74
 
 
36
23
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
3.3
 
 
97
75
 
 
3.4
 
 
95
74
 
 
1.8
 
 
93
71
 
 
0.8
 
 
87
64
 
 
0.6
 
 
80
56
 
 
0.9
 
 
74
50
 
 
0.5
 
 
74
49
 
 
0.5
 
 
78
51
 
 
1
 
 
85
58
 
 
1.1
 
 
91
65
 
 
2.3
 
 
95
71
 
 
2.9
 
 
97
74
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches

Barcaldine experiences a

El Niño Southern Oscillation influence,[46]
with annual totals ranging from 146.0 millimetres or 5.75 inches in 1946 – and as a little as 96.7 millimetres or 3.81 inches between November 1901 and October 1902 – to 1,333.8 millimetres or 52.51 inches in 2010.

Climate data for Barcaldine Post Office, Queensland, Australia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1886–present); 267 m AMSL
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 44.9
(112.8)
44.3
(111.7)
42.5
(108.5)
37.3
(99.1)
35.2
(95.4)
33.0
(91.4)
32.0
(89.6)
35.7
(96.3)
40.1
(104.2)
42.5
(108.5)
45.1
(113.2)
44.6
(112.3)
45.1
(113.2)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 40.0
(104.0)
38.8
(101.8)
36.9
(98.4)
33.9
(93.0)
29.8
(85.6)
27.1
(80.8)
27.0
(80.6)
29.6
(85.3)
33.6
(92.5)
37.0
(98.6)
39.0
(102.2)
40.1
(104.2)
40.1
(104.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 35.9
(96.6)
34.9
(94.8)
34.0
(93.2)
30.8
(87.4)
26.6
(79.9)
23.6
(74.5)
23.5
(74.3)
25.7
(78.3)
29.7
(85.5)
33.0
(91.4)
34.8
(94.6)
35.9
(96.6)
30.7
(87.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 30.0
(86.0)
29.1
(84.4)
27.9
(82.2)
24.3
(75.7)
20.0
(68.0)
16.9
(62.4)
16.4
(61.5)
18.2
(64.8)
22.2
(72.0)
25.8
(78.4)
28.1
(82.6)
29.6
(85.3)
24.0
(75.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 24.1
(75.4)
23.3
(73.9)
21.7
(71.1)
17.8
(64.0)
13.3
(55.9)
10.1
(50.2)
9.2
(48.6)
10.6
(51.1)
14.7
(58.5)
18.6
(65.5)
21.4
(70.5)
23.2
(73.8)
17.3
(63.2)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 20.9
(69.6)
20.2
(68.4)
18.3
(64.9)
13.3
(55.9)
7.9
(46.2)
4.4
(39.9)
3.4
(38.1)
4.9
(40.8)
8.6
(47.5)
13.3
(55.9)
16.7
(62.1)
19.2
(66.6)
3.4
(38.1)
Record low °C (°F) 13.0
(55.4)
15.2
(59.4)
10.9
(51.6)
5.6
(42.1)
2.8
(37.0)
−1.6
(29.1)
−1.6
(29.1)
−0.3
(31.5)
2.2
(36.0)
5.8
(42.4)
10.0
(50.0)
12.2
(54.0)
−1.6
(29.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 84.0
(3.31)
87.0
(3.43)
44.9
(1.77)
20.8
(0.82)
15.5
(0.61)
22.9
(0.90)
12.7
(0.50)
13.6
(0.54)
24.2
(0.95)
27.1
(1.07)
58.4
(2.30)
74.0
(2.91)
485.1
(19.11)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 5.6 6.3 3.8 2.1 1.5 2.0 1.3 1.3 2.3 3.1 4.2 5.3 38.8
Average
relative humidity
(%)
48.5 53.5 46.0 45.5 45.5 50.0 45.5 40.0 37.5 36.5 38.5 42.5 44.1
Average dew point °C (°F) 17.8
(64.0)
18.6
(65.5)
15.7
(60.3)
12.5
(54.5)
9.0
(48.2)
7.3
(45.1)
5.2
(41.4)
5.4
(41.7)
7.9
(46.2)
10.2
(50.4)
12.8
(55.0)
16.0
(60.8)
11.5
(52.8)
Source 1:
Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1991–2020 normals)[47]
Source 2:
Australian Bureau of Meteorology (1886–present extremes)[48]

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)).[49][50] 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).[51] It includes a special education program.[49]

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)).[49][52] 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).[51]

Wanpa-rda Matilda Outback Education Centre is an Outdoor and Environmental Education Centre at the corner of Ash & 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)).[49][53]

Media

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

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation transmits ABC and its sister channels ABC Kids, ABC TV Plus, ABC Me and ABC News through its Relay Station, ABBQ (23°31′43″S 145°15′33″E / 23.52861°S 145.25917°E / -23.52861; 145.25917)

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

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.[54]

Barcaldine Regional Council operates a library at 71 Ash Street.[55]

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)).[56][57][58]

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)).[59][60][19]

Attractions

The attractions in Barcaldine include:

Cultural references

The Working Man's Paradise: an Australian Labour novel, was written by William Lane under the pseudonym John Miller in 1892, inspired by the events of the 1891 Shearers' Strike in Barcaldine. This story shows a contrast between the 'haves' and the 'have nots' (slum dwellers and the wealthy citizens) and depicts the conflict between the squatters and pastoral workers. The preface of the book states, 'The scene is laid in Sydney because it is not thought desirable, for various reasons, to aggravate by a local plot the soreness existing in Queensland'.[63]

Barcaldine features in Hail Tomorrow: a play in four acts, written by Vance Palmer in 1947. The full-length play's conflict centres about the Queensland shearers' strike of 1891.[64][65]

See also

References

  1. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Barcaldine (urban centre and locality)". Australian Census 2021. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ "Barcaldine – town in Barcaldine Region (entry 1587)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Barcaldine – locality in Barcaldine Region (entry 47073)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  4. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Barcaldine (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 8 February 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  5. ^ "Barcaldine - Queensland - Australia - Travel - smh.com.au". www.smh.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 November 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Iningai". State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  7. ^ Norman, W. H.; Landsborough, William; Walker, Frederick (1862), Exploration expedition: letter from Commander Norman reporting the return of the "Victoria" from the Gulf of Carpentaria : together with reports and correspondence., retrieved 6 June 2023 – via Trove
  8. ^ "Barcaldine – locality (entry 47073)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Barcaldine and Barcaldine Shire". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  10. ^ Fernandes, C. Island Off the Coast of Asia: Instruments of statecraft in Australian foreign policy (Melbourne: Monash University Publishing, 2018), 15.
  11. ^ "A Mother of Men". The Capricornian. Vol. 43, no. 32. Queensland, Australia. 10 August 1918. p. 38. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser
    . Vol. XXV, no. 3141. New South Wales, Australia. 27 June 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Barcaldine and Barcaldine Shire". Queensland Places. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  14. ^ Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  15. ^ Griggs, Peter (2013), 'Taking the waters': mineral springs, artesian bores and health tourism in Queensland, 1870-1950, Cambridge University Press, p. 164, archived from the original on 7 May 2021, retrieved 16 January 2017
  16. ^ Griggs, Peter (2013), 'Taking the waters': mineral springs, artesian bores and health tourism in Queensland, 1870-1950, Cambridge University Press, pp. 168–169, archived from the original on 7 May 2021, retrieved 16 January 2017
  17. ^ a b "Barcaldine Uniting Church". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  18. ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  19. ^
  20. ^ a b "Barcaldine Shire Hall & Offices (entry 601274)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  21. The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts. Vol. IX, no. 210. Queensland, Australia. 28 January 1896. p. 7. Archived
    from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "The Sisters of Mercy". The Capricornian. Vol. XLVIII, no. 39. Queensland, Australia. 29 September 1923. p. 30. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "History". St Joseph's Catholic Primary School. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  24. The Brisbane Courier
    . Vol. LXVI, no. 16, 094. Queensland, Australia. 11 August 1909. p. 5. Retrieved 25 May 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. . 2 August 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Barcaldine War Memorial". Monuments Australia. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  27. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Barcaldine". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 29 February 2016. Edit this at Wikidata
  28. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Barcaldine". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 29 February 2016. Edit this at Wikidata
  29. ^ "Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. November 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  30. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Barcaldine (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  31. ^ Larkins, Damien; Gordon, Krystal (24 October 2019). "Epic outback queue of motorhomes smashes world record". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  32. ^ "Recent place name decisions". Queensland Government. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  33. ^ "Proposed Locality Boundaries and Names: Barcaldine Regional: Alpha, Aramac, Barcaldine, Jericho and Muttaburra" (PDF). Queensland Government. 17 May 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  34. ^ "Locality Boundaries and Names: Barcaldine Regional Council: Alpha, Aramac, Barcaldine, Jericho and Muttaburra" (PDF). Queensland Government. 17 May 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  35. CC BY licence
    , accessed on 2 June 2022.
  36. ^ "Manifesto of the Queensland Labour Party, 1892". UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Program. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  37. ^ a b "A tribute to the working men and women of Australia" (PDF). Australian Workers Heritage Centre. May 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  38. ^ "Barcaldine War Memorial Clock (entry 600018)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  39. ^ "Shearers' Strike Camp Site, Barcaldine (entry 600019)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  40. ^ "Tree of Knowledge (entry 600021)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  41. ^ "Barcaldine Masonic Temple (entry 600020)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  42. ^ "St Peter's Anglican Church and Hall (entry 600022)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  43. .
  44. .
  45. Australian Bureau of Meteorology
    . Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  46. Australian Bureau of Meteorology
    . Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  47. ^ a b c d "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  48. ^ "Barcaldine Prep-12 State School". Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  49. ^ a b "ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  50. ^ "St Joseph's Catholic Primary School". Archived from the original on 12 March 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  51. ^ "Wanpa-rda Matilda Outback Education Centre". Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  52. ^ "Barcaldine". Centre for the Government of Queensland. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  53. ^ "Libraries". Barcaldine Regional Council. Archived from the original on 7 June 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  54. ^ "Branch locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  55. Barcaldine Regional Council. Archived
    from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  56. ^ Google (7 May 2021). "Barcaldine CWA Hall" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  57. ^ "Find a Church". Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  58. ^ Google (7 May 2021). "Barcaldine Uniting Church" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  59. ^ "Australian Workers Heritage Centre". Tourism & Events Queensland. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  60. ^ "Barcaldine and District Historical Museum". Tourism and Events Queensland. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  61. ^ Lane, William (1892). "The workingman's paradise : an Australian labour novel / by 'John Miller' (William Lane) ; with an introduction by Michael Wilding". State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  62. ^ Palmer, Vance (1947). "Hail tomorrow : a play in four acts / by Vance Palmer". State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  63. ^ Phillips, AA (1948). "Hail Tomorrow: A Play in Four Acts [Book Review]". Meanjin. 7 (1): 1–2. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2019 – via Informit.

Further reading

  • Hoch, Isabel (1996), More than a school : a history of St. Joseph's, Barcaldine 1896-1996, St. Joseph's School,

External links