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Barcaldine, QLD

Barcaldine‘s charming facade, one that has earned it the tag of ‘Garden City of the West’ hides tumultuous tales of a controversial past.

Barcaldine

In 1891, five years after the railway push into the Outback established the township, Barcaldine became the headquarters of the Great Shearers’ Strike. One thousand shearers laid down their blades in a defiant protest that reverberated around the nation and resulted in the formation of the Australia Labour Party and a graziers’ group which later evolved into the National Party. An enduring symbol of the strike lives on today in the Tree of Knowledge, the imposing ghost gum in the town’s main street where the strike meetings were held.

The Australian Workers Heritage Centre is a national project commemorating not just these events, which changed the course of the nation’s working history, but is a tribute to all Australian working men and women. Set in over five acres of landscaped gardens, it is also home to the Wanpa-rda Matilda Outback Education Centre – a unique residential facility for schools and community groups.

Barcaldine is also home to the Australian Workers Heritage Centre and the old world Radio Theatre, complete with its canvas seats, and the working windmill that pumps water into the sculpture designed and erected by the Youth of Barcaldine, which stands outside the information centre.

Barcaldine is situated at the junction of the Capricorn and Matilda (Landsborough) Highways. Use Barcaldine as a base from which to explore the Central West of Queensland. The extensive range of accommodation and shopping facilities make Barcaldine a relaxing place to stay, recover and explore.

Nearest Airport: Barcaldine

Where to stay?

Experiences

  • 18-35's
  • Active
  • Caravan and Camping
  • Farm/Station
  • Rural/Country
  • Cultural
  • Environmental
  • Historic/Heritage
  • Nature based
  • Relaxation
  • Remote
  • Self-Drive
  • Soft Adventure

Popular Activities

  • Off Road Driving
  • Bird Watching
  • Bush Walking
  • Golfing
  • Shopping
  • Sightseeing
  • Swimming
  • Fishing
  • Wilderness
  • Wildlife
  • Outback
  • World Heritage

About Barcaldine

  • Locality: Urban locality
  • Barcaldine Postcode: 4725
  • State: Queensland
  • Region: Outback Queensland
  • Latitude: -23.55199
  • Longitude: 145.28907
  • Elevation: 269m
  • Population: 1422
  • Median Income: $37180
  • Area (Sq/km): 745.679
  • Timezone: Australia/Brisbane

Accommodation In Barcaldine

Discover some of the accommodation in and around Barcaldine

Explore The Outback

Australia has a vast remote interior, much of it largely untouched. By night, the outback is deathly quiet, with the only light provided by the stars and the moon - a perfect oportunity for stargazing. Explore the isolated heart of the country, meet and connect with Aboriginal people and experience one of the oldest living cultures in the world. Go ‘walk-about’ and immerse yourself with Australia’s endless outback horizons.

Outback Experiences

Luxe Accommodation

Enjoy a distinctly Australian luxury experience, such as the unforgettable reefs, islands, beaches and coast; rugged mountain ranges, rainforests and vast national parks; and the many vibrant food and wine regions. Take a once in a lifetime adventure and discover the sheer indulgence of experiencing the wonders of Australia in style and stay in total luxury.

Australia has wide variety of accommodation options to suit most budgets and travelling preferences. Choose from luxury lodges, boutique hotels, serviced apartments, motels, bed and breakfasts, caravan parks as well as youth and backpacker hostels.

Accommodation

Glasshouse Mountains

The Glasshouse Mountains in the hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are actually the cores of 20 million year old volcanoes. The sides of the volcanoes have eroded away leaving only the hardened rock spiremountain cores we see today. Learn more about this awe-inspiring landscape.

Glasshouse Mountains