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Queensland holds a special place in helping shape Australia’s labour movement and the ongoing legacy of workers’ rights. In the late 19th century, workers were faced with difficult conditions and limited protections. It was in this context that organised labour began to take shape, driven by a collective belief in fairness, opportunity, and reform.

A single tree in Central West Queensland became one of the most important political landmarks in Australia. In Barcaldine, the story of the Tree of Knowledge is about workers who gathered in hardship, and helped shape the future for all Australians. The events linked to this site date back to the 1891 Great Shearers’ Strike, a time when Queensland’s wool industry sat at the centre of national wealth and conflict. Today, visitors can explore that story at the Australian Worker

The first of a long, hard-fought series of victories that led to Australia having one of the most progressive labour environments in the world by the early 20th century.

In 2026, the Australian Workers Heritage Centre marks its 35th Anniversary - celebrating three and a half decades of preserving and sharing Australia's working history.

It's a time to consider the history of Labour Day and its wider significance, with its connection to the Australian ideals of mateship and egalitarianism.