Gladstone, Queensland

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Gladstone Queensland
Gladstone
Population:	31,028 (2006 est.)
Area:	147 km² (56.8 sq mi)
Time zone:	AEST (No Daylight Saving) (UTC+10)
Location:	532 km (331 mi) from Brisbane
LGA:	Gladstone Regional Council
State District:	Gladstone
Federal Division:	Flynn
Mean Max Temp Mean Min Temp Annual Rainfall 27.7 °C 82 °F 18.5 °C 65 °F 880.0 mm 34.6 in

Gladstone is an Australian city located some 550 kilometres by road north of Brisbane and 100 kilometres south-east of Rockhampton. The city is situated between the Calliope River to the north and the Boyne River some 14 kilometres to the south. Between the two river mouths lies the deep water harbour for which the city owes its existence. The harbour is protected by a low island to the east called Facing Island and to the north by Curtis Island.

The city's population stands at 31,028 (Jun 30 2006 estimate)^[1], of whom 3.5 percent are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin, with the remainder being of primarily European descent.^{[citation needed]}

The City of Gladstone contains a land area of 128 square kilometres. In addition to the mainland area, the Local Authority Area contains fourteen (14) islands as well as part of Curtis Island.

History

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Prior to European settlement, the Gladstone region was home of the Baiali (or Byellee) and Goreng goreng Aboriginal tribes.

In May 1770, the HM Bark Endeavour, under the command of James Cook, sailed by the entrance to Gladstone Harbour under the cover of darkness. Matthew Flinders, during his 1801-1803 circumnavigation of Australia, became the first recorded European to sight the harbour in August 1802. He named the harbour Port Curtis, after Admiral Roger Curtis, a man who was of assistance to Flinders years earlier at the Cape of Good Hope. John Oxley conducted further exploration of the harbour and surrounding countryside in November 1823. Oxley was dismissive of the region, noting the harbour was difficult to enter, the countryside was too dry, and the timber useless for construction purposes.

Nevertheless, a colony was eventually established at Port Curtis. Colonel George Barney's expedition was eventful. On January 25, 1847, the Lord Auckland, carrying 87 soldiers and convicts, arrived off the southern entrance of Port Curtis and promptly ran aground on shoals off the southern tip of Facing Island. The settlers spent seven weeks on the island before being rescued by the supply ship Thomas Lowry and delivered the intended site of settlement, the region now known as Barney Point.

On January 30 at a proclamation ceremony, Barney was officially sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of the colony of North Australia. ^[2]. The convict settlement lasted barely two months. A change of government in Britain ordered the withdrawal of Barney and the settlers. However, interest in the region remained. By 1853, Francis MacCabe was surveying the site of a new town on the shores of Port Curtis. Maurice O'Connell was appointed government resident the following year, resulting in an influx of free settlers as land became available throughout the region. In 1863, the town became a Municipality with Richard Hetherington elected Gladstone's first mayor.

The fledgling town was named after the British Statesman William Gladstone and has a 19th century marble statue on display in its town museum.^[3].

Development of Gladstone was slow until 1893, when a meatworks was established at Parsons Point. In 1963, Queensland Alumina Limited established its alumina refinery on the site of the old meatworks. Gladstone's port facilities were expanded and the city launched into an era of industrial development and economic prosperity.

In the sister city program, Gladstone is twinned with the Japanese port of Saiki.^[4]

Geography

Climate

Gladstone experiences a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) and is one of the southernmost places in Australia to have this type of climate.

Education

Gladstone has several primary schools (Clinton State School, Kin Kora State School, South State School, West State School, Central State School, St John the Baptist Catholic, Star of the Sea Catholic, Trinity College and St Stephens Lutheran College(Prep-12)), three high schools (Gladstone State High, Toolooa State High and Chanel College), and one university campus, Central Queensland University. It is also home to CQIT (TAFE) Gladstone Campus.

Recreation

It was once branded "Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef" as it has access to Heron Island, Wilson Island and other islands from the marina and local airstrips.

Gladstone has much to offer both tourists and locals alike such as Gladstone Marina.

Parks

Spinnaker Park provides a small netted swimming area, shelters, and barbecues, and some great walking paths. At certain times of the day you may spot the pods of dolphins which frequent the harbour. From Auckland Point lookout one can view the harbour and get a look at the workings of a majour philip.

Established in 1988, the Tondoon Botanic Gardens incorporates more than 1,500 plant species^[6] but specialises particularly on those of Central Queensland region.

Boyne Island

Boyne Island and Tannum Sands have grown in popularity because of their beautiful beaches and relaxed lifestyle. The Millennium Esplanade is a big attraction where there are lots of shelters, barbecues and walking paths, and long stretches of beach. Boyne Island is not part of the Gladstone township but is part of the Gladstone region and formley part of the Calliope Shire.

Lake Awoonga

A little further afield (25 km south of Gladstone) is Lake Awoonga. The recreation area has free barbecues, swimming, landscaped walking trails, as well as a cafe and caravan park. The lake has been stocked with several fish species since 1996, and over 2 million barramundi have been released. In addition to the fishing, Lake Awoonga has many natural attractions, especially the wildlife, with more than 215 species of birds (or over 27% of Australia's bird species) found in the region. Lake Awoonga is also the primary source of Gladstone's water supply. Awoonga dam is not part of the Gladstone township but is part of the Gladstone region and formley part of the Calliope Shire.

Shopping

Gladstone has a number of shopping precincts: Stockland Gladstone (formerly the Kin Kora Mall, featuring a number of major national retailers); Centro Gladstone and Centro Gladstone Home (the first Home centre constructed by Centro); and Gladstone Central. There are also many smaller retailers located along Goondoon Street, the main street of town situated in the CBD.

Transport

Auckland Inlet, with the Power Station in the background

Peak hour traffic along the Dawson highway (the main thoroughfare into the city centre for residents living in the outer suburbs of Clinton and New Auckland)Gladstone Regional Council has finished construction of a four-lane section of road, which was previously only two lanes (between the Chapman Drive roundabout and the Penda Avenue roundabout). A ring road system is being constructed, with Kirkwood road project and the Callemondah overpass, being completed.^{[citation needed]}

It is also a major stop on the North Coast railway line, with many long-distance passenger trains operated by QR Traveltrain stopping in the area. Freight trains also pass through the region.

Airport

Gladstone Airport is located in the western suburbs of Gladstone about 6 km (8 minute drive) from the centre of the city.

The main supplier of scheduled passenger air services is QantasLink. Most services are non-stop to Brisbane Airport.

As of May 2009 Construction began the $65 Million upgrade to the Gladstone Airport.^[7] The upgrade will consist of a runway extention from 1635m to 1960m, additional car parking and a terminal upgrade which will now have passengers security screened before boarding.^[8]

Suburbs

Gladstone Marina, with the RG Tanna Coal Terminal (formerly Clinton Coal Facility) in the background

The following is a list of Gladstone suburbs recognised by the Committee for Geographical Names in Australasia.

• Gladstone City
• Barney Point (site of first settlement)
• Byellee
• Callemondah (primarily industrial)
• Clinton
• Glen Eden
• Kin Kora (site of main shopping centre)
• Kirkwood
• New Auckland
• South Gladstone
• Sun Valley
• Telina
• Toolooa
• Watson (primarily light industrial)
• West Gladstone

Gladstone Power Station as seen from Helicopter.

Storage Silos on the Gladstone waterfront

Notable people from Gladstone

• Paul Bishop, (1966 - ), actor,
• Kimberley Busteed, Miss Universe Australia 2007^[9].
• Tony Clarke (1968 - ), AFL Player
• Shannon Long (1969 - ), model
• Chris Luder, (born May 17, 1979), a final 13 contestant from the 2005 Australian Idol Series.
• PJ Marsh, (Born February 19, 1980), rugby league player
• Tony Martin, (Born October 7, 1978), rugby league player,
• Frederick Woolnough Paterson, (1897-1977), Australian politician

See also

• Kroombit Tops National Park
• Beautiful Betsy
• The Boyne Valley
• Monto
• Calliope, Queensland
• Tannum Sands, Queensland
• Ubobo, Queensland
• Nagoorin, Queensland
• Builyan, Queensland
• Many Peaks, Queensland

These above places are part of the Gladstone Region but were formerly part of the Calliope & Miriamvale Shires

References

External links

• Gladstone, Queensland is at coordinates 23°50′56″S 151°15′46″E / 23.848983°S 151.262656°E / -23.848983; 151.262656Coordinates: 23°50′56″S 151°15′46″E / 23.848983°S 151.262656°E / -23.848983; 151.262656

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