It's best to get an early start for a morning at the gemfields. At Rubyvale and Sapphire you're amongst the largest sapphire fields in the Southern Hemisphere, so make time to fossick for your own gems. Heading west from the gemfields, traverse the Great Dividing Range, which reaches 444 metres above sea level between the townships of Alpha and Jericho. Alpha's striking street murals and art gallery are always popular attractions, whilst Jericho takes pride in the sculpture of the Crystal Trumpeters in the main street and the Redbank Nature Reserve. Barcaldine holds a significant place in Australia's history. In the great shearer's strike of 1891 Barcaldine became the rallying point, and that led to the formation of the Australian Labor Party. The Tree of Knowledge is a monument to these times, and the Australian Workers Heritage Centre plays a key role in defining our national character. Bicentennial Botanical Park and the September Bougainvillea Garden competition compliments Barcaldine's title as the 'Garden City of the West'.