The site of the 150-year-old, 10-metre Ghost Gum located in the centre of Barcaldine in central west Queensland is a symbol of an important time in Australia's political development. It was used as the meeting place for shearers during their unsuccessful strike of 1891. During that strike, as well as the maritime strike of 1890, a crucial and historical connection was forged between unions and what was to become the Australian Labor Party. In April 2006 the Tree of Knowledge was poisoned and did not recover. It was felled on 29 July 2007 but the site remains an important place of National Heritage.
The Tree of Knowledge was included in the National Heritage List on 26 January 2006.
