Removing shearers during the 1891 Great Strike, Hughenden, Queensland

In January 1891, the manager of Logan Downs Station asked shearers to sign a contract that included a cut to shearers wages and the option of hiring non-union labour. The workers refused and called a strike until a list of demands were met including: continuation of existing rates, protection of workers’ rights and privileges, and exclusion of low-cost Chinese labour.

The strike spread quickly with organisers forming armed strike camps outside towns across central Queensland. More than 2000 soldiers and police were brought into the area and 1099 special constables were sworn in to protect non-union labour and arrest the strike leaders.