Visit Rockhampton City, Queensland And Enjoy The Beef Capital Of AustraliaRockhampton, Australia, is a small city beside the mighty Fitzroy River, about 40 kilometres inland from the river's mouth on northern Queensland's Capricorn Coast. It is an important regional centre for a mainly agricultural area, and an increasingly popular tourist destination. Rockhampton is about a day's drive north of the city of Brisbane, making it a good stop for travellers exploring the beaches, mountains, outback and rainforests of North Queensland - as well as the islands and ocean wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. The city of Rockhampton was founded as a river landing for early European settlers who came in search of grazing for their sheep and cattle. The town grew into an important inland port during the development of central Queensland, and was a major exporter of wool. In the 1880s Gold was discovered at the Mount Morgan Mine, about 40 kilometres to the south-west, and the wealth from the mine flowed through the port at Rockhampton. Many local people hoped it would become the capital of a proposed state of Central Queensland, and many of the city's impressive 19th Century buildings along the Quay Street river-front reflect those hopes. Rockhampton City has the highest density of heritage buildings in Australia, rivalling The Rocks historic area in Sydney. The most impressive is the grandly-domed Customs House, which once oversaw trade on the river and now serves as a museum and information centre about the region. Although history denied Rockhampton, Australia, its opportunity to be a state capital, it revels in the title of the "Beef Capital of Australia." The statues of six bulls - one for each of the major cattle breeds in the area - are set in small parks around the city. The largest export cattle-yards in Australia are on the outskirts of "Rocky", and rodeos are held each week in a stadium beside the Great Western Hotel. The city hosts a Beef Expo every three years featuring trade fairs, prize cattle, rodeo-riding, cooking demonstrations by international chefs, and a competition to see which local business or community group can create the best bull statue. Unfortunately the fame of the statues has attracted some bizarre and unwanted attention - on a number of occasions souvenir hunters have attempted to purloin the testicles of Rocky's symbolic ceramic bulls. Quay Street is the focus of downtown activities. Once wooden wharves lined the length of the city river-front, serving the ships that docked to load wool bound for the textile mills and factories of England. Now the area is a promenade for walkers and cyclists lined with parks and fishing spots. Queensland's famous barramundi - a type of sea-bass - are often caught in the river in the heart of the city, and sometimes salt-water crocodiles are seen nearby. Some years ago a croc measuring 3.4 metres (11 feet 2 inches) was found and safely "relocated" to a crocodile farm. The forested slopes of Mount Archer rise just north-east of Rockhampton, providing a backdrop to the city and opportunities for walkers and wildlife lovers. The area is protected as a national park, and is home to several rare native bird species. Frazer Park at the summit of Mount Archer can also be reached by a road, and offers a magnificent view of the cityscape with its river and the surrounding countryside. There are also several popular rock-climbing sites within the park. The award-winning Dreamtime Cultural Centre is sited in native bushland just outside the Mount Archer park, and features displays of local Aboriginal heritage, artworks, and performances of boomerang throwing and digeridoo playing. Rockhampton is a 30-minute drive from North Queensland's Capricorn Coast - named for the Tropic of Capricorn, the southern limit of the tropical zone, which crosses just south of the metropolis itself. This diverse and beautiful shoreline has many sheltered beaches that enjoy 300 days of sunshine every year. The coast around the major resort town of Yeppoon is renowned for its views of Keppel Bay and the nearby Keppel Islands, part of the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Many of the Keppel Islands are scientific and wildlife reserves, but camping is permitted on seven islands within the park. The largest of the Keppel group, Great Keppel Island, lies just outside the park and is a popular tourist resort famed for its white coral-sand beaches and clear blue waters. Several boat tour operators at Yeppoon and at other coastal towns offer swimming, snorkelling and sight-seeing cruises of the Keppels, and local dive operators run regular trips to the best dive sites in this part of Great Barrier Reef. Return from Rockhampton City to Great Barrier Reef Information |
