Central Queensland
Central Queensland 2011 census)[1] | |
---|---|
LGA(s) | |
State electorate(s) | |
Federal division(s) | Capricornia |
Central Queensland is an imprecisely-defined
At the 2011 Australian Census the region recorded a total population from the six local government areas of 233,931.[1]
Industry
Economically, Central Queensland is an important centre of
Beef
Rockhampton is claimed to be the beef capital of Australia, a title which is disputed by Casino in New South Wales.[3] Beef production in the region is centred on Brigalow and speargrass land types.[4] Every three years, Rockhampton holds the national Beef Australia exposition to celebrate the cattle industry as well as to facilitate trade opportunities for Australian beef producers.[5]
Mining
Central Queensland is one of the world's leading producers and exporters of black coal.[6] Ludwig Leichhardt was the first European to discover coal deposits in the region in 1845.[7] In the 2011-2012 financial year the region produced 40% of the state's total coal production.[8]
Coal is extracted from the
Gold, silver, limestone, coal seam gas, magnesite and gemstones are also mined.[6] Sapphires were discovered here in 1875.[10] Gold was discovered in the Mount Morgan region around 1865. Mount Morgan Mine has since gone on to become one of Australia's richest mines.[11]
Purpose-built mining towns in Central Queensland include
Citrus canker outbreak
In 2004, an
Protected areas
The region contain 33 national parks. Great Keppel Island has been an island tourist attraction since the 1960s. It and several other islands in the area are surrounded by coral reefs.[15] In the west of the region is Queensland's central highlands and the Carnarvon Gorge, which is protected within the Carnarvon National Park. Carnarvon Gorge features white sandstone cliffs, steep-sided gorges a diverse range of significant plant and animal species and many walking tracks.[16] Kroombit Tops National Park provides habitat for the endemic Kroombit tinker frog. Deepwater National Park is good place for turtle watching. From November to March three species of turtle lay their eggs on beaches protected within the park.[17]
Communities
For this purpose the area of Central Queensland was restricted to the areas encircled by the Dawson Highway between Gladstone and Springsure; the Gregory Highway between Springsure and Clermont, and the Peak Downs Highway between Clermont and enters North Queensland via Mackay – extended right to the eastern coastline.
Major cities in the region are
History
In 1889 Central Queenslanders in Rockhampton established the Central Queensland Territorial Separation League with the hopes of turning Central Queensland into its own state. The core argument of secessionist movement was that the seat of government, Brisbane was in the south-east corner of the State. It was so far removed from substantial portions of the state that these areas and their citizens were left disadvantaged and neglected as political and economic interests focused on the south. Supplementing the Central Queensland Territorial Separation League, the women of Rockhampton established their own separation league in October 1892. Their main focus was preparing a petition to Queen Victoria. The introductory text set out their grievances and described the immense size of Queensland: being twelve times the area of England and Wales, and larger than France, Germany, Spain and Portugal combined. [23]
Education
Central Queensland University has a campus at Emerald, Gladstone and Rockhampton.
Library Service
The Central Highlands Regional Council operates the following library branches:[24]
- Emerald Library
- The Gemfieldslibrary
- Blackwater Library
- Dingo Library
- DuaringaLibrary
- Capella Library
- TieriLibrary
- SpringsureLibrary
- Rolleston Library
- Bauhinia Library
See also
References
- ^ a b "Census data". 2011 Census of Population and Housing. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
- ^ "An Overview of Food and Fibre Industries in Central Queensland" (PDF). Regional Development Australia. Retrieved 20 June 2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Paul Robinson, Elloise Farrow-Smith & Miranda Saunders (17 April 2014). "An ownership row has erupted over who holds Australia's Beef Capital title". Australia: ABC News. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
- ^ "The economics of beef in Central Queensland" (PDF). Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ About Beef Australia Archived 10 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Beef Australia website. Accessed 10 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Central Queensland information and maps". Department of Natural Resources and Mines. The State of Queensland. 27 February 2014. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
- ^ "Coal Mining in Blackwater". Blackwater International Coal Centre. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
- ^ "Central Queensland Regional Plan". Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning. 24 April 2015. Archived from the original on 7 May 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "Return to full production for flood affected mines in Central Queensland". Queensland Reconstruction Authority. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
- ^ "History of the Sapphire Industry – Central Queensland". Australian Sapphire. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
- ^ "Mount Morgan Mine Site (entry 600751)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
- ^ "Moura inquiries". The State of Queensland. Archived from the original on 21 March 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
- ^ a b "Spot of Trouble". Landline. 29 March 2009.
- ^ "Citrus canker outbreak to impact on residents". Australia: ABC News. 7 September 2005. Retrieved 29 March 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "About Keppel Bay Islands". Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing. 6 January 2014. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
- ^ "About Carnarvon Gorge". Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing. 20 October 2009. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
- ^ "Nature, culture and history". Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing. 19 October 2009. Archived from the original on 2 September 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
- CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Gungabula". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Wadja". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Yagalingu". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Yambina". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Yetimarala". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Central Queensland Separation League Petition 1892-1893: treasure collection of the John Oxley Library". State Library of Queensland. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Central Highlands Regional Libraries Locations and Hours". Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
External links
Media related to Central Queensland at Wikimedia Commons