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Rockhampton, Qld



Customs House


Archer Park Station


McAuley Place


Post Office


Victoria Bridge


Singing Ship at Emu Park


Yeppoon


Mount Archer National Park


Yeppoon main beach


Great Keppel Island

Rockhampton, the centre of a prosperous agriculural and mining region, is a city of considerable charm, with many fine stone buildings dating back to the late 19th century. Rockhampton experiences over 300 days of sunshine each year, which lends itself to tourism activities all year round and an abundance of outdoor activities.

Where is it?: Queensland: Capricorn Coast. Rockhampton is on the Tropic of Capricorn 797 km north west of Brisbane on the Bruce Highway. Rockhampton, on the Fitzroy River, is 40 km from the river mouth.

Things to see and do:

Quay Street is an outstanding street of late 19th century buildings and is one of the best examples of commercial streetscape in Australia. The mostly two or three storey buildings, of rendered brick, were built to accommodate a great variety of uses mostly associated with the life and development of the port. The Quay Street precinct occupies three consecutive city blocks.

Riverbank Parklands, a riverfront parkland attraction located on the banks of Fitzroy River.

From culture to horticulture - Rockhampton Botanic Gardens have been lauded for containing some of the most extensive examples of indigenous flora and fauna in Australia. The Rockhampton Zoo, located in the Gardens' grounds, has chimpanzees, koalas, several bird species, and much, much more.

Lookouts: The lookout in Mount Archer National Park provides magnificent views of the city and showcases a spectacular range of native Australian flora and fauna.

Surrounding area:

The Capricorn Coast is a coastal strip of deserted beaches, sparkling white sands and small seaside villages between Yeppoon (40km north east) and Emu Park. The Capricorn Coast region is spared the higher temperatures and humidity of North Queensland. As a result visitors in summer often find the more temperate climate easier than the extremes further north. More >>

Emu Park (44km east) is home of the famous Singing Ship Monument, a musical sculture. It sings almost constantly because of the on-shore breezes. The Singing Ship was created to celebrate the bi-centenary of James Cook's exploration of the Australian east coast in 1770. The small, peaceful town of Emu Park is a popular tourist spot overlooking the islands of Keppel Bay, including the Great Keppel Island.

Just a 30 minute glide across the waters from Yeppoon lies Great Keppel Island, one of the most famous islands on the Great Barrier Reef and the biggest of the Keppel group of islands. Fringed by stunning, coral gardens, turquoise waters and sun drenched beaches. The island's interior abundant with native wildlife and acres of bush land scattered with winding walking trails. The island has a Resort and Holiday Village.

Dreamtime Cultural Centre (6km north) is Australia’s largest indigenous attraction. Guided tours throughout the centre include a highlight of watching a didgeridoo performance inside a cave and learning the different techniques that are used to produce the fascinating animal sounds.

Mt Morgan (38km west) is one of, if not the most charming former mining town in Australia. Home to one of the world's richest gold discoveries Mount Morgan's history is a quintessentially Australian story. It tells of great hopes, vision and great tasks undertaken and accomplished. Today, the mine lies idle, but the town is far from dead. Its grand buildings, museums, and charm is living testament to a magnificent pioneering past and a strong civic spirit.

Capricorn Caves (25km north) are a unique system of above-ground caves in a limestone ridge. Tours range from easy walking, wheelchair accessible caves to wild caving adventure tours. More >>


The Buildings of Quay Street

Of the 28 buildings within the Quay Street precinct, 17 were erected in 1901; of these six were built in the first phase of development (before 1882) and only three of these remain largely intact. The others were the subject of new facades, additions and alterations, undertaken in the 1880s and 1890s. Twelve of the buildings, and by far the largest group, were built during the second phase (1882-1903).
Two of the oldest buildings from the first phase of development are of exceptional architectural and historic interest. Number 170, the Union Trustee building (1877) was built as a residence and surgery for Dr. Callaghan, and designed by JW Wilson. He became the most notable architect in Rockhampton and designed many of the Quay Street buildings. This two storey building has a well detailed two storey verandah with classical columns and cast-iron balustrading. At the rear are an old kitchen, stables and hay loft which are also of historical interest.
The premises of Rees R. and Sydney Jones (1880), originally built for the Queensland National Bank, were designed by FDG Stanley. The building features a two storey arcaded loggia with fine classical detailing together with cast-iron balustrades, timber blinds and louvre screens. Its elegant design and its corner location make it an outstanding feature of Quay Street.
The most prominent building in the street were built during the second phase of Rockhampton's development (1882-1903). These include The Criterion Hotel (1889), a grand three storey Victorian building with a corner tower which marks the north west limit of the precinct; the Customs House (1898-1901), and outstanding classical revival building, designed by AB Brady and built of sandstone. The building is entered via a semi-circular portico bordered by a Corinthian colonnade, and is crowned by a copper dome which is a landmark of Quay Street and the city centre.
Another prominent building is the former Commercial Hotel (1898); a three storey building designed by JW Wilson, featuring a post-supported awning at ground level, narrow-width verandahs to the upper floors, with cast-iron columns, frieze, and balustrade. Its corner site, at a point where the alignment of Quay Street changes, makes this former hotel an important component in the streetscape. Alongside it stand three single storey buildings. Numbers 232-4 Quay Street (originally Cahill's Stores), Number 236 The Australian Broadcasting Commission (1897) originally the offices of the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company, and Number 238, Queensland Druggists Ltd (1899) originally erected by Walter and Eliza Hall. The facades of these three buildings feature classical detailing and are complementary to one another, and form an outstanding group.
Further along Quay Street are three two storey buildings, two offices and storehouses built in 1899 and 1887; and a former residence, Avonleigh, built in 1885. At the end of the precinct, on the corner of Derby Street, is a large three storey warehouse (1894) built for Walter Reid and Company and designed by Richard Gailey. This building, combined with a similar building at the rear, marks the transition in Quay Street from Commercial to industrial and residential use.
From the opening of the southern rail link until the end of World War II, only five new buildings were constructed which, although simple, blend with the earlier buildings in form and scale. However, recent buildings in Quay Street differ greatly in appearance and character from those built in the 19th century. Nevertheless, the 19th century buildings remain dominant in the streetscape, thanks largely to their consistency in scale, design, and the use of classical stylistic elements. One of the most unifying elements is the presence of verandahs, colonnaded facades and loggias, a reflection of the adaptation of design to needs of the tropics.

Brief history: Small amounts of gold were found at Canoona, to the north of the site of Rockhampton, in 1859. Miners rushed to the new field, using the site of Rockhampton on the Fitzroy River as the nearest navigable port. The Canoona field proved to be very disappointing and thousands of would-be gold seekers were left stranded at Rockhampton. Although many returned south, others stayed, adding to the infant town's population.
Although the Canoona gold rush of 1859 proved to be short-lived, it established Rockhampton as the seaport for Central Queensland and the centre for the growing pastoral industry. In 1882, following the discovery of gold at Mount Morgan, Rockhampton entered a new phase of its development as a port for the export of gold. As a result, Rockhampton experienced a boom. Rockhampton had been surveyed and laid out in 1857 in a rectangular grid pattern with the principal streets parallel to the river bank and the minor streets at right angles. From the opening of the railway to the south in 1903, the problems of silting combined with the diminished importance of the port, and the wharves fell into disrepair.


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Rockhampton information website
Rockhampton Regional Council
Capricorn Coast Travel Guide

Where Is It?: Queensland: Capricorn Coast