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Gladstone, Queensland
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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 29,288 (2006 estimate), of whom 3.5 percent are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin, with the remainder being of primarily European descent.
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Encyclopedia
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 29,288 (2006 estimate), of whom 3.5 percent are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin, with the remainder being of primarily European descent. In addition, there is/was a significant American population that resided in Gladstone who were associated with designing and coordination of several industrial plants in the area.
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
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. . 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.
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.
Education
Gladstone has several primary schools (Clinton State School, Kin Kora State School, South State School, West State School, Central State School, St John's College, Star of the Sea, 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, Lady Elliot 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. Gladstone in 2006]]
Established in 1988, the Tondoon Botanic Gardens specialises in Australian native plants, particularly those of Central Queensland.
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.
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.
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. Most people choose to make major purchases out of Gladstone mostly in Rockhampton due to consistant bad service and attitudes of local businesses. There are also many smaller retailers located along Goondoon Street, the main street of town situated in the CBD.
Transport
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) can be a headache for commuters with waits of up to 20 mins at times. Gladstone City 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.
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.
Suburbs
The following is a list of Gladstone suburbs recognised by the
- 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
Notable people from Gladstone
- Paul Bishop, (1966 - ), actor,
- Kimberley Busteed, Miss Universe Australia 2007.
- 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
External links
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