The tree that became legend EarthCache

Welcome to the Tree of Knowledge

The Tree

It is perhaps fitting that Barcaldine's Tree of knowledge was naturally seeded and grew to marturity in an area that was to become the main street of the new township. A street that was to be named after a tree that is considered to be solid - the Oak. For like the oak tree, Eucalyptus papuana remained steadfast. It has weathered the harsh western Queensland elements and with the help of man, it survived two termite and one insect infestation. While its was the hands of man that prolonged it's life, it was also the hands of man that ended it.

Throughout it's estimated 200 years, this majestic ghost gum saw the passing of the seasons and shaded indigenous Australians. it watched silently as the early explorers strode confidently into uncharted territory, as the railway head pushed its way west and as men took up arms and as effigies were burnt in the street. The Tree bore witness to all.

Father Time marched on and the Tree aged gracefully until almost the end of the 20th Century when it was discovered in 1982 that the Tree was showing signs of termite infestation and radical surgery by tree specialists was undertaken in a fight to save the precious icon. The Tree's limbs were cut back to the trunk and termite mounds were removed. The Tree underwent "Termite proofing" and all hollow cavities were plugged with cement and chicken wire. The Tree survived, but the canopy never regained its pre-surgery lushness and width.

In 1990, the tree again showed signs of termite infestation and was once more subjected to severe measure to save it. The scars left by life-saving surgery are just as much a part of the Tree of Knowledge story as all other stories. Unfortunately, despite the great energy and cost put towards conserving the tree, it became a victim of an unknown environmental vandal in mid 2006. After almost 200 years, this iconic tree was dead. The Tree's continued ill-health had prompted the attempted cloning of the Tree, but this was met with limited success.

One hundred and one years after the Shearer's Strike, Barcaldine's Tree of Knowledge was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. The Tree's pivotal role in embryonic unionism and Australian politics was recognised in January 2006, just months before the official death of the Tree.

The Legend

It would be impossible to write about the Tree of Knowledge without talking about the Shearers' Strike for they are woven together like an intricate tapestry. The Tree which has become the heart and soul of the Barcaldine community played an important part in the shaping of Australia's political identity, thereby giving a voice to the common man and the "true believer".

1891 was the culmination of almost five years of angst between shearers and pastoralists over the decision to lower the price of payment for shearing sheep. Pastoralists were invited to attend a meeting in Blackall in 1887 to talk with shearing delegates in "a fair and liberal spirit". Pastoralists ignored the invitation as a result, the Queensland Shearers' Union was formed - leading the way for the birth of other unions such as the Central Queenland Carriers' Union and even an Employers' Union.

For the time and considering the lack of modern communication conveniences, unionism spread like wild fire - with employees wanting a better deal and employers believing that the conditions needed to be reduced to match thier declining land valuations and profits.

The temerity of both parties set the "Bush Telegraph" crackling with indignation from shearers and pastoralists alike it became increasingly evident that the confrontation loomed - one that would surpass the skirmish at Eureka. The importance of this confrontation went way beyond the fracas on those southern goldfields. In fact, the reverberations of 1891 are still being felt today.

In 1889 pastoralists met at Barcaldine and formed the Central Queensalnd Employers' Associatiuon which changed its name to Queensland Pastoral Employers' Association in 1890. The aim of this organisation was to prevent strikes. This organisation proposed the penning of a "Murual Shearing Agreement". However, aside from the concession of a 48 hours week, there was little that favoured the unions. As well as the general callout of 1890, there were also rumours of strikes at Barcaldine Downs and throughout Central Queensland. At the threat of a strike, pastoralists would proclaim "freedom of contract" allowing men to be engaged outside union rules. Without consultation they announced severe wage cuts and refused to negotiate, ignored unions and challenged their right to exist - all from an organisation that was supposed to prevent strikes.

In february 1891 Clermont shearers went on strike and were followed not long after by their western counterparts. 1000 western shearers marched in a torchlight parade in support of their brethren and in May 1891 the shearers marched under the Eureka Flag, to put their protests against poor working conditions and low wages. Strike camps sprung up throughout the west.

In 1891, Barcaldine was bristling with anarchy, held in check by a tenuous thread. Tempers ran high and Australia's innocence was soon to be put upon the sacrificial altar in the name of "freedom".

The Barcaldine strike was broken on 6 May 1891 and the camp near Lagoon Creek all but disbanded. By June that year other camps had also been disbanded due to ration supply problems. The shearers lost to the pastoralists, losing ground at the same time.

Throughtout the tumultuous months of 1891, it is suggested that the prominent tree located near the railway station becaome and identifiable meeting place for the shearers. Once known as the "Alleluia Tree" because the Salvation Army met there, this ghost gum became the centre of a struggle and became referred to as the "Tree of Knowledge".

Over the years, the Tree has become a symbol of struggle, of striving for a "fair go" and of freedom. Ironically, as Adam and Eve found out by eating the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil -enlightenment and conscience came at a price.

The Memorial 

The Tree of Knowledge has seen many stormy times, but it was a sunny May Day in 2009, that this silent witness to the passing struggles of generations of Australians was officially welcomed home after an amazing journey.

A journey that involved its excavation from the site is occupied for almost 200 years to be sent south for chemical preservation - a process that would take the better part of 12 months, but would preserve the tree trunk, branches and root ball intact. This was an Austrlian first.

The Tree of Knowledge skeleton would form the centrepiece of an 18-metre high memorial that would pay homage to the significance of the site. The concept was designed by Brian Hooper Architect and m3architecture in Association. Suspended above the Tree are 3449 timbers representing the leaves and canopy of the tree as it would have been at the time of the Shearers' Strike.

The ochre-coloured concourse surrounding the Tree pays tribute to the areas where other union camps were located - Thus recognising the role other Queenslanders played in this massive struggle. It is also reflective of the original earth colour around the Tree.

The root ball was salvaged and preserved and is displayed through a glass floor.This design feature gives the unique and dramatic effect of suspending the viewer above the root ball.

Protecting the tree on the outside is a "charcoaled" facade providing a "veiled" effect to reference a place of mourning and reverence. The facade is constructed of 1464 timbers, bringing the total number of timbers in the memorial to 4913.

Since its construction the memorial has recieved a mixed reaction - from one end of the spectrum to the other. From a distance it may look like an unfinished rainwater tank stand, or a bird cage or a big black box - but up close and personal, the monument take on an entirely different meaning. The events of 1891 were enormous with a nationwide impact. The monument of the Tree under whose canopy these events took place had to be striking - it had to be large - it had to be a traffic stopper - but most impotantly it had to effectively tell the story of those who had gone before.

To log this earthcache, please email me the answers to the following questions!

1.What type of tree is the Tree of Knowledge? And whats it's scientific name?

2. What can be seen underneath the glass floor at the base of the Tree of Knowledge?

3. What is the texture of the Tree by feeling Horizontally, opposed to Vertically?

4. What were the three Human intervention reasons of saving the Tree's life?

5. By looking at the surrounding area, What type of soil would the Tree of knowledge have grown up in? Why? There are 5 main soil types.

6. What type of stone has been engraved and used on the ground to surround the Tree of knowledge?