The 1891 shearers' strike is one of Australia's earliest and most important industrial disputes.

The dispute is primarily between unionized and non-unionized wool workers.

It results in the formation of large camps of striking workers, and minor instances of sabotage and violence on both sides.

The strike is poorly timed, and when the union workers run out of food, they are forced to come to terms.

The outcome is credited as being one of the factors for the formation of the Australian Labor Party and the rise to power of a pro-Labor Party faction in the Australian Socialist League.