Conflict

The ballad of 1891

The price of wool was falling in 1891

The men who owned the acres said something must be done

‘We’ll break the shearers’ union and show we’re masters still

And they’ll take the terms we’ll give them or

We’ll find the men who will!’

Helen Palmer, ‘The Ballad of 1891’, 1950

1 January 1950

29 September 2010

Freedom on the Wallaby, 1891

So we must fly a rebel flag

As others did before us

And we must sing a rebel song

And join in rebel chorus.

We’ll make the tyrants feel the sting

O’ those that they would throttle

They needn’t say the fault is ours

If blood should stain the wattle.

Henry Lawson ‘Freedom on the Wallaby’ The Worker, Brisbane 16 May 1891

16 May 1891

29 September 2010

The Worker

Shearers’ Manifesto, 2 February 1891

‘Fellow Unionists, an unprovoked and unjustifiable attack has been made upon the above shearers’ and labourers’ unions by the squatters’ associations.

2 February 1891

29 September 2010

Great Shearers’ Strike of 1891

The Great Shearers’ Strike of 1891 was a major confrontation between Queensland graziers and their shearing hands.

Anti-chinese cartoon on the cover of Queensland Punch and Figaro, 14 July 1888. Collection of John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

Collection of John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland image 61315

Chinese translation of the Gold Fields Regulations and Gold Fields Act, 1873. Collection of John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland

Collection of John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland image 18224

The Chinese question

With the commencement of the Queensland gold-rushes in the 1860s, large numbers of Chinese miners and businesses arrived, and competition with Europeans led to rising tensions.

Native Police Barracks and Reserve, Mary River, 1860

Mary River, QLD

Australia

See map: Google Maps

1 January 1860

29 September 2010

Location

Mary River, QLD

Australia

See map: Google Maps

29 September 2010

Queensland State Archives. Image by Jonathan Richards

Native Police Barracks and Reserve, Mary River, 1860. (SUR/A1/1860/725) Queensland State Archives. Image by Jonathan Richards

Native Police paddock, near Murrays Lagoon, Rockhampton

Murrays Lagoon Rockhampton, QLD

Australia

See map: Google Maps

29 September 2010

Location

Murrays Lagoon Rockhampton, QLD

Australia

See map: Google Maps

29 September 2010

Queensland State Archives. Image by Jonathan Richards

Map tracing showing Native Police paddock, near Murrays Lagoon, Rockhampton. (EXE/E5/17) Queensland State Archives. Image by Jonathan Richards

Native Police Barracks, near Bowen, 1863

Bowen, QLD

Australia

See map: Google Maps

1 January 1863

29 September 2010

Location

Bowen, QLD

Australia

See map: Google Maps

29 September 2010

Queensland State Archives. Image by Jonathan Richards

Map tracing showing Reserve for Native Police Barracks, near Bowen applied for by Lieut Marbow, 1863. (COL/A46/1863/2655) Queensland State Archives. Image by Jonathan Richards