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Rockhampton
Also known as Rockhampton, Queensland, Rockhampton, QLD
Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. In the , the population of Rockhampton was 79,293. A common nickname for Rockhampton is "Rocky", and the demonym of Rockhampton is Rockhamptonite.
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Place details
- Locality
- Rockhampton
- Region
- Queensland
- Country
- Australia
- Population
- 81,021
Travel guide
Understand
Rockhampton was established in 1855 and is one of Queensland's oldest cities. It was named by Queensland's first Land Commissioner, Mr W. Wiseman, who was supposedly inspired by the rocks in the river flowing through the town.
In the late 1800s, several nearby gold discoveries ensured continued economic growth of the region and of Rockhampton. Subsequently, as mining, grazing, farming and meat processing industries developed in Central Queensland, Rockhampton thrived as a regional service centre.
Rockhampton was incorporated as a city in 1902, and has continued to grow slowly but steadily ever since. It has a population of 79,000 people (2018). The Rockhampton area is surprisingly busy, with considerable traffic on the roads, and a substantial suburban area. It has a feel much more of a developed city than of an outback town.
Rockhampton is almost universally called Rocky. Just about every business has some variation of Rocky in their name or their promotion.
It is also famous as the hometown of Rod Laver – one of the best tennis players in history.
See
Many of the attractions in Rockhampton are operated by the local council, which has a focus on tourism promotion.
thumb|right|200px|Giant Fig in the Botanic Gardens thumb|right|200px|Church and schoolhouse at Rockhampton Heritage Village thumb|right|200px|Customs House. The arrival point for many immigrants to Australia in the 1800s
Do
200px|right|thumb|Crocodile at Koorana
Eat
Rockhampton is regarded as the beef capital of Australia, so be sure to go to a steakhouse when you are here.
Be warned that many establishments, especially that along the Bruce Hwy south of the river, become drive thru-only, after a certain time (varies by establishment, though usually after 8:30–9PM) as an anti-crime deterrent.
Drink
Rockhampton has 4 nightclubs located at the Quay Street end of William Street, and many bars scattered throughout the city. The Criterion Hotel situated at 150 Quay Street has a lively atmosphere and the bar and club is open till 3AM Friday and Saturday. The "Cri" as it's locally known is a great place for food and a few drinks in the afternoon as well. Locally known to have a ghost as well.
~31 min read
Article
30 sectionsContents
- History
- Indigenous Australians
- British colonisation
- Gold rushes and expansion
- Central Queensland Separation Movement
- 20th century
- 21st century
- Geography
- Climate
- Heritage listings
- Governance
- Economy
- Agriculture
- Military
- Tourism
- Other Industry
- Culture
- Facilities
- Education
- Media
- Newspapers
- Radio
- History
- Infrastructure
- Water
- Power
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. In the , the population of Rockhampton was 79,293. A common nickname for Rockhampton is "Rocky", and the demonym of Rockhampton is Rockhamptonite.
The Scottish-Norwegian explorers Charles and William Archer came across the Toonooba River in 1853 and named it in-honour of Sir Charles FitzRoy; they also named many local landmarks after figures in Norse mythology, including the Berserker Range named after the Norse warrior "Baresark". The Archer brothers took-up a run near Gracemere in 1855, and more settlers arrived soon thereafter, enticed by the fertile valleys. The town of Rockhampton was proclaimed in 1858, and surveyed to a design that closely resembled the Hoddle Grid of Melbourne, and consisted of a grid of wide boulevards and laneways, which was uncommon for Queensland cities. Within a year, gold was found at Canoona, and led to the first North Australian gold rush. The Canoona gold rush led to an influx of migrants that transformed Rockhampton into the second-largest port in the state; during this period, Rockhampton became infamous for crime and violence, and was described by the then visiting English novelist, Anthony Trollope as the "City of the Three S's"—"sin, sweat, and sorrow". Subsequent gold discoveries at the Mount Morgan Mine, which was at that time one of the most-productive gold mines in the world, laid the foundations for much of the city's Victorian architecture, and recast Rockhampton into a grand northern city.
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On the map
3 mapped locations