Upcoming Events in Barcaldine

Gateway to the West. Alpha was named after an early property in the area which was taken up in 1863 and then became established as a service town for railway construction workers. The town belongs to the Barcaldine Shire, one of Queensland’s largest cattle producing areas. Located on the Capricorn Highway, its streets are named after poets, the main street being Shakespeare Street. The region is famous for its petrified wood and you can see firsthand the sculpture by Cedar Creek artist Antone Bruinsma. It is a representation of a boulder that has been opened to reveal its treasures and mysteries with the Fossilised Forest Sculpture in the main street. The exterior of the sculpture has interesting forms, carvings and stone attachments to reflect the history of the prehistoric area in which petrified wood formed. Take a leisurely walk around the ‘Town of Murals’ and view the 27 murals Alpha has to offer. The murals have been painted by local resident artists and beautifully pay tribute to the pioneers of the bush and the history of the district. You can soak up Alpha’s history at the Jane Neville Rolfe Art Gallery, the Tivoli Theatre Museum, the New Bridge, Beta Hut and Settlers Park.