The city of Rockhampton is
situated in Central Queensland, approximately 650 km north of the state
capital, Brisbane
Rockhampton lies just north of the Tropic of Capricorn,
and is Australia's most southerly tropical city. Temperatures range from
around 2 deg C in winter to in excess of 40 deg C in summer. The city lies
on the Fitzroy River, and is 30 km from the sea, covers an area of
187 square kilometres, and has a population of 65000.
The Capricorn Spire
and Information Centre
Rockhampton today is a regional centre supporting the beef industry,
and as a service centre for the extensive coal mines to the west. Two
large export abattoirs are located in the city. Stanwell Power Station to
the west provides power to the city and beyond, and the area is planned to
be an industrial area, initially for a magnesium casting facility. The
Kunwarara Magnesite project to the north is now providing raw material for
a magnesium plant in the northern suburbs.
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- Santa Gertrudis Statue
- South Rockhampton
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The Customs House
Rockhampton was founded in 1855. It is named after a bar of
rock which
spans the Fitzroy River at this point, preventing oceangoing vessels from
proceeding any further upriver. Like many Australian towns, the
city's early development was spurred on by the discovery of gold. The
first local gold rush occurred at Canoona, 50 km north of the city. Other
discoveries of the metal, most notably at Mount Morgan to the southwest,
caused the town to grow rapidly. Rockhampton became a city in 1902.

Murray Lagoon, Rockhampton
Botanical Gardens
Rockhampton is well served by road, rail and air services. Electric
passenger trains run from Brisbane and to the west. The airport has
recently been upgraded to international standard, and regularly receives
international charter flights.
The area also serves as a base for military
training, with the Shoalwater
Bay Military Training Area situated to the north. A permanent detachment
of the Singapore Armed Forces is based at the airport, and supports major
exercises once a year. The United States Armed Forces also regularly
conduct exercises here. |