Rockhampton

Rockhampton, a town of Queensland, Australia, situated on the south bank of the Fitzroy, 35 miles from its mouth, and 420 NW. of Brisbane. The town has wide streets, lined with trees, and many substantial buildings, including the government offices, hospital, and town-hall. It owes its beginning (1858) to the extensive gold-fields in the neighbourhood, the annual yield of which is valued at £1,000,000 to £1,250,000; copper and silver are also worked to some extent. The land around is well adapted for grazing. The industries include tanning, soap and boot making, and meat-preserving. The chief port for central Queensland, its trade in exports (one-third) and imports reaches an annual value of £1,500,000. A bridge across the Fitzroy, with five spans of 232 feet each, connects Rockhampton (pop. 7431) with its suburb North Rockhampton (pop. 1700).