Australian shearers' strike begins at Barcaldine, January 1891

Background. Wool production was a major industry in 1891, yet working conditions for shearers remained consistently poor. By 1890, the Amalgamated Shearers' Union of Australasia had tens of thousands of members. At their 1890 conference in Bourke, the Union established a rule prohibiting members from working with non-union workers, setting the stage for industrial action.

Strike Commencement. On 5 January 1891, shearers announced a strike until specific contract demands were met. Barcaldine became a focal point of the dispute, with the Eureka Flag flying over the strike camp. The event is recognized as one of Australia's earliest and most important industrial disputes.

Labor Party Connection. The strike is credited as a factor in the formation of the Australian Labor Party. Labor tradition ascribes the founding of Queensland Labour to a meeting of striking pastoral workers under the Tree of Knowledge in Barcaldine. On 9 September 1892, the Manifesto of the Queensland Labour Party was read out at this site.