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The main cause of the Great Shearers' Strike in Australia was the poor conditions under which shearers had to work and live. During the 19th century in Australia, shearers endured meagre wages and poor working conditions. This led to the formation of the Australian Shearers' Union which, by 1890, had tens of thousands of members.

Early in 1891, Manager Charles Fairbain of Logan Downs Station near Clermont in central Queensland, demanded shearers sign the Pastoralists Association contract of free labour before they started work. This was an attempt to reduce the influence of the union.

On 5 January 1891 the shearers refused to work unless the station agreed to their union's terms. This was the beginning of many months of union shearers around Australia downing their tools and striking. Tensions increased as striking shearers formed armed camps outside of towns, while mounted troopers (police on horseback) protected the non-union labour and arrested strike leaders. Shearers retaliated by burning woolsheds and crops, and committing other acts of sabotage and harassment. By May of 1891, the violent suppression of the strike action forced shearers to give in.

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What strike was occurring at the time of writing Waltzing Matilda?

A shearers' strike was occurring at the time of the writing of Waltzing Matilda, on Dagworth sheep station north of Winton.


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The Australian Labor Party was formed largely in response to the conditions highlighted by the Great Shearers' Strike of 1891. Shearers in Australia endured meagre wages and poor working conditions. This led to the formation of the Australian Shearers' Union which, by 1890, had tens of thousands of members. Early in 1891, Manager Charles Fairbain of Logan Downs Station near Clermont, Queensland, required that shearers sign the Pastoralists Association contract of free labour before commencing work. This was an attempt to reduce union influence. On 5 January 1891 the shearers refused to work unless the station agreed to their union's terms. This marked the beginning of many months of union shearers around Australia downing their tools and going on strike. Tensions escalated as striking shearers formed armed camps outside of towns, and mounted troopers protected non-union labour and arrested strike leaders. Shearers retaliated by burning woolsheds and crops, and committing other acts of sabotage and harassment. By May of 1891, the violent suppression of the strike action forced shearers to give in. The strike, however, highlighted the need for a political party to represent the rights of the union workers; thus was ultimately born the Australian Labor Party. (source: today.wmit.net - May 1)


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Related questions

What strike was occurring at the time of writing Waltzing Matilda?

A shearers' strike was occurring at the time of the writing of Waltzing Matilda, on Dagworth sheep station north of Winton.


Why was the Australian labor formed?

The Australian Labor Party was formed largely in response to the conditions highlighted by the Great Shearers' Strike of 1891. Shearers in Australia endured meagre wages and poor working conditions. This led to the formation of the Australian Shearers' Union which, by 1890, had tens of thousands of members. Early in 1891, Manager Charles Fairbain of Logan Downs Station near Clermont, Queensland, required that shearers sign the Pastoralists Association contract of free labour before commencing work. This was an attempt to reduce union influence. On 5 January 1891 the shearers refused to work unless the station agreed to their union's terms. This marked the beginning of many months of union shearers around Australia downing their tools and going on strike. Tensions escalated as striking shearers formed armed camps outside of towns, and mounted troopers protected non-union labour and arrested strike leaders. Shearers retaliated by burning woolsheds and crops, and committing other acts of sabotage and harassment. By May of 1891, the violent suppression of the strike action forced shearers to give in. The strike, however, highlighted the need for a political party to represent the rights of the union workers; thus was ultimately born the Australian Labor Party. (source: today.wmit.net - May 1)


Why was the National Party Of Australia formed?

The Australian Labor Party was formed largely in response to the conditions highlighted by the Great Shearers' Strike of 1891. Shearers in Australia endured meagre wages and poor working conditions. This led to the formation of the Australian Shearers' Union which, by 1890, had tens of thousands of members. Early in 1891, Manager Charles Fairbain of Logan Downs Station near Clermont, Queensland, required that shearers sign the Pastoralists Association contract of free labour before commencing work. This was an attempt to reduce union influence. On 5 January 1891 the shearers refused to work unless the station agreed to their union's terms. This marked the beginning of many months of union shearers around Australia downing their tools and going on strike. Tensions escalated as striking shearers formed armed camps outside of towns, and mounted troopers protected non-union labour and arrested strike leaders. Shearers retaliated by burning woolsheds and crops, and committing other acts of sabotage and harassment. By May of 1891, the violent suppression of the strike action forced shearers to give in. The strike, however, highlighted the need for a political party to represent the rights of the union workers; thus was ultimately born the Australian Labor Party. (source: today.wmit.net - May 1)


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The Tree of Knowledge is a ghost gum that used to be growing in the Main Street of Barcaldine, western Queensland (the tree was poisoned by vandals in 2006). This tree was the site of a meeting of shearers during the Shearers' Strike in 1891. This meeting, to discuss the unfair conditions and wages for the shearers, eventually led to the formation of the Australian Labor Party, and is regarded as the birthplace of the ALP. The ALP is one of the two major political parties in Australia.


What is important about Barcaldine?

Barcaldine is important in Australian history because it is linked to the development of one of Australia's two main political parties, the Australian Labor Party. During the 19th century, shearers in Australia worked under very poor condition, among them long hours for low wages. Dissatisfaction with this situation led to the development of the Australian Shearers' Union, and by 1890, this union had a membership of tens of thousands. In an attempt to reduc union influence, there was a particular sheepstation manager, Charles Fairbain of Logan Downs Station near Clermont, Queensland, who required that shearers sign the Pastoralists Association contract of free labour before starting work.On 5 January 1891 the shearers refused to work unless the station agreed to the terms of the union. This started many months of union shearers around Australia downing their tools and going on strike. Tensions increased as striking shearers protected themselves in armed camps outside the towns, while mounted troopers protected non-union labour and arrested strike leaders. The shearers then hit back by burning woolsheds and crops, and committing other acts of sabotage and harassment. On 1 May 1891, Australia's first May Day marches involving hundreds of protestors were held in Barcaldine and Ipswich, Queensland, on behalf of the shearers. In Barcaldine, the marchers carried banners of the Australian Labor Federation, the Shearers' and Carriers' Unions, a 'Young Australia' flag and the Eureka flag.Soon after this, the violent suppression of the strike action forced shearers to give in. The strike, however, highlighted the need for a political party to represent the rights of the union workers; this was a major catalyst to the development of the Australian Labor Party. However, Barcaldine is not actually the birthplace of the ALP, as the Queensland branch of what was originally called the "Australian Labor Federation" was already under development, planning to endorse parliamentary candidates the previous year, in 1890.


What Australian political party's formation is closely linked to the central Queensland town of Barcaldine?

The ALP - Australian Labor Party.The History behind the link between the ALP and Barcaldine:During the 1800s, shearers in Australia worked under very poor conditions, among them long hours for low wages. Dissatisfaction with this situation led to the development of the Australian Shearers' Union, the membership of which grew to tens of thousands by 1890. In an attempt to reduce union influence, there was a particular sheepstation manager, Charles Fairbain of Logan Downs Station near Clermont, Queensland, who required that shearers sign the Pastoralists Association contract of free labour before starting work shearing his sheep.Early in January 1891 the shearers downed their tools and refused to work unless the Logan Downs station agreed to the terms of the union. This started many months of shearers going on strike around Australia. Tensions increased as striking shearers protected themselves in armed camps outside the towns, while mounted troopers protected non-union labour and arrested strike leaders. The shearers then hit back by burning woolsheds and crops, and committing other acts of sabotage and harassment. On 1 May 1891, Australia's first May Day marches involving hundreds of protestors were held in Barcaldine and Ipswich, Queensland, on behalf of the shearers. In Barcaldine, the marchers carried banners of the Australian Labor Federation, the Shearers' and Carriers' Unions, a 'Young Australia' flag and the Eureka flag.Soon after this, the violent suppression of the strike action forced shearers to give in. The strike, however, highlighted the need for the rights of union workers to be represented nationally; this was a major catalyst to the development of the Australian Labor Party. However, Barcaldine is not actually the birthplace of the ALP, as the Queensland branch of what was originally called the "Australian Labor Federation" was already under development, planning to endorse parliamentary candidates the previous year, in 1890.


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tom