Tree of Knowledge Memorial

The Tree of Knowledge, a 200-year-old ghost gum located in Barcaldine, Queensland, Australia, was poisoned and killed in 2006.

It gained historical significance as the site of the 1892 reading of the Labour Party manifesto, which led to the formation of the Australian Labor Party. The tree stood in front of the Barcaldine railway station, where meetings for the 1891 Shearer's Strike were organized.

The Tree of Knowledge is still standing and protected by a modern fence. The area surrounding the tree is landscaped with flowering shrubs and bordered by a low rail made of log lengths. The site also includes a flagpole and a monument symbolizing shear blades, erected in 1991 to commemorate the centenary of the Shearer's Strike. At the foot of the tree, there is a plaque honoring the workers of the West for their loyalty, courage, and sacrifice in 1891, from whom Australia's labor and political movement emerged.

The Tree of Knowledge was heritage-listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. It holds historical significance for the people of Barcaldine as a symbol of the town's identity and history, as well as its association with the development of the labor movement and Australian politics. It is widely regarded as one of the key sites of Queensland's history and its preservation is important for conserving the cultural heritage of Barcaldine. The site also has a special association with the Australian Labor Party and the Trades Union movement in Queensland.