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53-639: Carnarvon Gorge is located in the Southern Brigalow Belt bioregion in Central Queensland ( Australia ), 593 km northwest of Brisbane . Primarily created by water erosion, Carnarvon Gorge is around 30 kilometres long, located in Carnarvon National Park , and six hundred metres deep at the mouth. It is the most visited feature within Carnarvon National Park due to the diversity of experiences it contains and

106-496: A disjunct population. The most frequently encountered of the Gorge's frogs are the tusked frog ( Adelotus brevis ), the striped marsh frog ( Limnodynastes peronii ), and the cane toad ( Bufo Marinus ). The introduced cane toad is currently implicated in the local disappearance of the northern quoll, once thought extinct all over QLD, a small population was established not long ago after 30 years of not one sighting of this critter,

159-523: A federal inquiry. In 2009 authorities from the Government of Queensland declared the eradication program complete. The region contain 33 national parks. Great Keppel Island has been an island tourist attraction since the 1960s. It and several other islands in the area are surrounded by coral reefs. In the west of the region is Queensland's central highlands and the Carnarvon Gorge , which

212-452: A number of coal seam gas (CSG) fields - also known as coalbed methane - developing in the region. These fields presently supply both the domestic market, including a number of power stations and the Roma to Brisbane Pipeline , and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) Plants located on Curtis Island near Gladstone to export Surat Basin gas to international markets. The Port of Gladstone is undergoing

265-1123: Is 20.5 °C – 35.5 °C. Statistically, the wettest month is February and the driest is August. These figures should always be considered in the context of Australia 's notoriously unpredictable climate. For example, between October 2007 and February 2008, Carnarvon Gorge received 1,400 millimetres of rainfall; 140% of its annual average. Three broad vegetation types are present in Carnarvon Gorge; eucalypt and angophora dominated woodland to open woodland; mixed eucalypt, acacia, white cypress pine or turpentine woodlands and/or open forests on sandstone slopes, scarps, ridges and residuals; cleared and/or regrowth areas. Four regional ecosystems listed as of concern are easily encountered by visitors to Carnarvon Gorge: Queensland blue gum woodland on alluvial plains; silver-leaved ironbark woodland on alluvial plains; Queensland blue gum, river she-oak fringing woodland on alluvial plains; and tall open forest in sheltered gorges and moist habitats. Two plant species, in particular, are considered Carnarvon Gorge icons;

318-822: Is a ten kilometre (10 km) track leading into Carnarvon Gorge, with diversions into specific sites such as the Art Gallery, Big Bend, Wards Canyon, Cathedral Cave, the Amphitheatre and the Moss Garden. In the mouth of Carnarvon Gorge, there are another five sites to visit; Boolimba Bluff, the Nature Trail, the Rockpool, Mickey Creek Gorge and Baloon Cave (closed due to bushfire damage in December, 2018) . Several remote tracks exist for experienced walkers;

371-586: Is an Australian Aboriginal language of Central Queensland. Its traditional language region was within the local government area of Isaac Region , from the headwaters of the Belyando River south to Avoca, north to Laglan , west to the Great Dividing Range , and east and south to Drummond Range . Yambina (also known as Jambina and Jambeena ) is an Australian Aboriginal language of Central Queensland. Its traditional language region

424-739: Is an imprecisely-defined geographical division of Queensland ( a state in Australia ) that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn . Its major regional centre is Rockhampton . The region extends from the Capricorn Coast west to the Central Highlands at Emerald , north to the Mackay Regional Council southern boundary, and south to Gladstone . The region is also known as Capricornia . It

477-651: Is an intracratonic basin that covers a sizeable section of New South Wales and southern Queensland . It was formed by fluvial sedimentation of an intracratonic area which underwent sediment sag-loading in the Jurassic to Cretaceous. The western central parts of the Surat Basin unconformably overlies the Palaeozoic igneous , metamorphic and sedimentary rocks of the Lachlan Fold Belt . In

530-485: Is considered by some to have been, culturally, more destructive than the direct conflict that preceded it. The farming of cattle and growing of crops remains a vibrant industry around Carnarvon Gorge but, since 1932 when it was gazetted as a National Park, such activities have no longer been allowed in the gorge itself. In 1974, the Ka Ka Mundi area which had been heavily grazed for about a century, also became part of

583-809: Is extracted from the Bowen Basin and transported to port facilities at Port of Gladstone via the Blackwater railway system or to both Hay Point and Abbot Point via the Goonyella railway line . Coal mining is expanding west into the Galilee Basin and requires an extension of the Goonyella line to transport coal to port. Many mines in the region, particularly those within the Fitzroy River basin, were severely impacted by flooding during

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636-422: Is of concern to Park rangers as it allows opportunistic species, such as the laughing kookaburra ( Dacelo novaeguineae ) and the pied currawong ( Strepera graculina ), to develop population sizes that are abnormally large. When visitation (and therefore hand-feeding) tapers off over the summer low tourism season the abnormal populations place abnormal pressure on the species' natural food sources which can include

689-486: Is one of Australia's main coal exporting regions. At the 2011 Australian Census the region recorded a total population from the six local government areas of 233,931. Economically, Central Queensland is an important centre of primary sector industries , particularly for food and fibre production. Central Queensland includes the Bowen Basin which is rich in high quality coking coal, the Port of Gladstone produces 40% of

742-653: Is overlain by the Walloon Coal Measures. After a brief (although debated) hiatus, the Springbok Sandstone was deposited. It is unclear whether the thickness changes in the Walloon Coal Measures indicate a major erosional event (unconformity), or if the contact is only locally scoured. The Springbok Sandstone grades upward into the Westbourne Formation. This contact is poorly defined, and still subject to debate. The westbourne

795-438: Is protected within the Carnarvon National Park . Carnarvon Gorge features white sandstone cliffs, steep-sided gorges a diverse range of significant plant and animal species and many walking tracks. Kroombit Tops National Park provides habitat for the endemic Kroombit tinker frog . Deepwater National Park is good place for turtle watching. From November to March three species of turtle lay their eggs on beaches protected within

848-488: Is the local government area of Central Highlands Region , including Peak Downs , Logan Creek, south to Avon Downs, east to Denham Range and Logan Downs, west to Elgin Downs and at Solferino. Yetimarala (also known as Jetimarala , Yetimaralla , and Bayali ) is an Australian Aboriginal language of Central Queensland. Its traditional language region is within the local government areas of Central Highlands Region , on

901-628: Is then overlain progressively by the Gubbermunda Sandstone, Oralo Formation, Mooga Sandstone, Bungil Formation, Wallumbilla Formation, Surat Siltstone, and finally the Griman Creek Formation. Later sediments have been removed by erosion since Cretaceous times. Since the early 2000s the Coal Seam Gas has been produced from multiple fields. More than conventional 100 hydrocarbon accumulations have been found in

954-624: The 2010–11 Queensland floods . Gold, silver, limestone, coal seam gas, magnesite and gemstones are also mined. Sapphires were discovered here in 1875. Gold was discovered in the Mount Morgan region around 1865. Mount Morgan Mine has since gone on to become one of Australia's richest mines. Purpose-built mining towns in Central Queensland include Dysart , Middlemount , Moranbah , Mount Morgan and Moura . Three mining disaster have occurred at Moura since 1975, resulting in

1007-647: The Boomer Range and Broadsound Range and the Fitzroy River , Killarney Station, Mackenzie River and Isaac River . In 1889 Central Queenslanders in Rockhampton established the Central Queensland Territorial Separation League with the hopes of turning Central Queensland into its own state. The core argument of secessionist movement was that the seat of government, Brisbane was in the south-east corner of

1060-671: The Bowen and the Surat , and the Buckland Volcanic Province. The youngest rocks in the area are the igneous basalt rocks of the Buckland volcanic Province which were laid down between 35-27 million years ago to depths of up to 300 metres. The basalt layer is present on top of the high country either side of the Gorge where it protects the landscape from erosion and generates significantly different soils to those derived from

1113-497: The Capricorn Coast include Byfield , Yeppoon , Great Keppel Island , Emu Park and Cawarral . Gungabula (also known as Kongabula and Khungabula ) is an Australian Aboriginal language of the headwaters of the Dawson River in Central Queensland. The language region includes areas within the local government area of Maranoa Region , particularly the towns of Charleville , Augathella and Blackall and as well as

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1166-901: The Carnarvon Range . Wadja (also known as Wadjigu , Wadya , Wadjainngo , Mandalgu , and Wadjigun) is an Australian Aboriginal language in Central Queensland. The language region includes the local government areas of the Aboriginal Shire of Woorabinda and Central Highlands Region , including the Blackdown Tablelands . the Comet River , and the Expedition Range , and the towns of Woorabinda , Springsure and Rolleston . Yagalingu (also known as Jagalingu , Auanbura , Kokleburra , Owanburra , Kowanburra , Wagalbara , and Djagalingu )

1219-447: The eastern grey kangaroo ( Macropus giganteus ), the pretty-faced wallaby ( Macropus parryi ), the swamp wallaby ( Wallabia bicolor ), the wallaroo or euro ( Macropus robustus ), the red-necked wallaby , ( Macropus rufogriseus ), and the rufous bettong ( Aepyprymnus rufescens ). Five of Australia's seven species of glider occur here; the greater glider ( Petauroides volans ), the yellow-bellied glider ( Petaurus australis ),

1272-436: The squirrel glider ( Petaurus norfolcensis ), the sugar glider ( Petaurus breviceps ), and the feathertail glider ( Acrobates pygmaeus ). Over 180 species of bird have been recorded within the Gorge, from the tiny weebill ( Smicrornis brevirostris ) to the wedge-tailed eagle ( Aquila audax ). Some of the Gorge's birds have become habituated to humans, due to hand-feeding which is against Park regulations. This situation

1325-501: The Easter, Winter and Spring Queensland School Holiday Periods. The Big Bend Camping Area is open year-round. A variety of accommodation options are available including cabins, caravan and motorhome sites and camping. Commercial tours of the gorge are available. 25°01′54.58″S 148°11′00.02″E  /  25.0318278°S 148.1833389°E  / -25.0318278; 148.1833389 Central Queensland Central Queensland

1378-449: The Gorge into an oasis which has supported forms of life long since passed from the semi-arid ecosystems surrounding it. Each of the rock strata exposed in the Gorge erodes and weathers according to its own characteristics, and the variety of soil types and landforms generated goes a long way towards explaining why Carnarvon Gorge supports such a diversity of life. Carnarvon Gorge's climate is considerably different from that experienced in

1431-604: The Gorge. The oldest component in the Surat Basin is the porous Precipice Sandstone, which forms the Gorge's spectacular cliffs. The Precipice Sandstone is one of the primary intake beds for the Great Artesian Basin , giving the area where it lies exposed significance as a replenishment zone. Below the Precipice Sandstone, the Gorge's floor is formed by the uppermost layer of the Bowen Basin ,

1484-485: The Moolayember Formation. The impermeability of this layer allows the water generated by Carnarvon Gorge's springs to remain close to, or above, the surface - a significant interplay in terms of the availability of water within the Gorge's ecosystems. Carnarvon Creek, whose flow has only been known to stop twice since records commenced, is an incredibly reliable source of water. In times of drought, it turns

1537-490: The National Park. The most commonly encountered snakes in the Gorge are the keelback ( Tropidonophis mairii ), the green tree snake ( Dendrelaphis punctulata ) and the carpet python ( Morelia spilota ). The largest lizards in the Gorge are the lace monitor ( Varanus varius ) and the sand monitor ( Varanus gouldii ). Of the wide variety of skinks, the largest is the major skink ( Egernia major ) which occurs in

1590-581: The Park's boundaries, and are joined in this category by at least four species of land snail. Butterflies are a feature of Carnarvon Gorge's fauna. Large aggregations of common crow ( Euploea core ) butterflies can occur in Carnarvon's cool, moist side gorges when the animals gather to overwinter. Carnarvon Creek is also home to large numbers of invertebrates, many of which are the larval stages of winged insects such as dragonflies. Visitors to Wards Canyon have

1643-791: The Ranch, the Devil's Signpost, and Battleship Spur. Situated within the Central Queensland Sandstone Belt, and separating the Consuelo Tableland and the Great Dividing Range , Carnarvon Gorge's landscapes have largely been shaped by water erosion. Over the last twenty seven million years Carnarvon Creek, which winds for over 30 kilometres (19 mi), has carved down through six hundred metres of stone, exposing rocks from three significant phases of Queensland 's geological history including two sedimentary basins,

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1696-701: The State. It was so far removed from substantial portions of the state that these areas and their citizens were left disadvantaged and neglected as political and economic interests focused on the south. Supplementing the Central Queensland Territorial Separation League, the women of Rockhampton established their own separation league in October 1892. Their main focus was preparing a petition to Queen Victoria .  The introductory text set out their grievances and described

1749-826: The Surat Basin and the Eromanga Basin to the west. The Nebine Ridge is well developed in Queensland and gravity data indicate that the southern extension of the ridge into northern New South Wales is terminated by cross faulting. In Queensland the Kumbarilla Ridge divides the Surat Basin from the Clarence-Moreton Basin to the east. The mostly flat-lying basin has a maximum thickness of about 2,500 m in Queensland, with up to 1,800 m preserved in New South Wales. Deposition in

1802-627: The Surat Basin commenced in the Early Jurassic with the Precipice Sandstone, a quartzose blocky sandstone unit interpreted as being deposited in a Braided Stream environment. the Precipice Sandstone is overlain by the finer grained and lower energy Evergreen formation. The Evergreen also contains local sand unit known as the Boxvale Sandstone. The Evergreen is conformably overlain by the Hutton Sandstone, which in turn

1855-485: The basin however only half are producing. The Surat Basin is not very important a target for oil as the source rocks have not generally been subjected to suitable conditions to evolve oil. There is some slight conventional natural gas potential. Jurassic coal seams have been worked and explored in the Queensland portions of the basin. The basin has a number of mines such as Wilkie Creek Mine where Peabody Energy Australia mines and then exports coal. The basin has

1908-664: The cliffs further into the Gorge whilst, below, numerous parrots and honeyeaters forage amongst the eucalypt canopy. Closer to ground level, visitors are likely to encounter the Australian raven ( Corvus coronoides ) and the pied currawong ( Strepera graculina ) anywhere they stop to eat. Along the walking tracks many smaller species will be present in the ground cover and understory including red-browed finches ( Neochmia temporalis ), white-browed scrubwrens ( Sericornis frontalis ), and several species of thornbill. Over 90 species of reptile and 22 species of frog are known to inhabit

1961-562: The cycad Macrozamia moorei (no common name) and the Carnarvon fan palm ( Livistona nitida ). Macrozamia moorei is closely associated with the Tertiary basalt flows of the Buckland Volcanic Province, and is endemic to Central Queensland. Livistona nitida is endemic to the springs and waterways of the Dawson River catchment, and Carnarvon Gorge is considered its stronghold. Several plants occur in disjunct populations, or approach

2014-564: The ease with which it can be accessed. The closest towns are Injune and Rolleston . In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Carnarvon Gorge was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as a "Natural attraction". Some western researchers have suggested that Aboriginal people did not live in the gorge permanently, due to defensive concerns and lack of food resources, whilst others suggest that permanent occupation

2067-533: The east and northern parts of Queensland it unconformably overlies the sedimentary basin rocks of the Hunter-Bowen Orogen. The Surat Basin overlies parts of the Bowen Basin in southern Queensland, and overlies the Gunnedah Basin in central New South Wales. Palaeozoic basement highs mark the western and eastern boundaries of the Surat Basin. The Nebine Ridge delineates the boundary between

2120-420: The flatter terrain surrounding it. Average rainfall in the Gorge is higher at 1,000 millimetres per annum and temperatures on the Gorge floor are more moderate. The lowest temperature recorded in the Gorge is -2 °C, whereas temperatures lower than -5 °C are experienced within 5 kilometres of its mouth. Average July temperature range is 6.3 °C – 20.9 °C, and average January temperature range

2173-494: The immense size of Queensland: being twelve times the area of England and Wales, and larger than France, Germany, Spain and Portugal combined. Central Queensland University has a campus at Emerald, Gladstone and Rockhampton. The Central Highlands Regional Council operates the following library branches: [REDACTED] Media related to Central Queensland at Wikimedia Commons Surat Basin The Surat Basin

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2226-499: The limits of their distribution, within Carnarvon Gorge such as the isolated colony of king ferns ( Angiopteris evecta ) found in Wards Canyon and the stately Sydney blue gum ( Eucalyptus saligna ) found in the Gorge's wettest habitats. Carnarvon Gorge has a rich mammalian fauna including Australia's two monotremes, the platypus ( Ornithorhyncus anatinus ) and the echidna ( Tachyglossus aculeatus ). Macropod species include

2279-500: The loss of 36 lives. In 2004, an orchard on Evergreen farm was the site of the first detection of citrus canker in Central Queensland. A significant part of the citrus growing industry was devastated when a total of 6,000 acres (24 km ) of crop had to be destroyed so the disease would not spread across the country. In 2005 several fresh outbreaks were reported so the eradication expanded to include private backyard trees. The outbreak's cause has not been fully explained despite

2332-450: The lower sedimentary rocks. Boulders eroded from the basalt layer dominate the Gorge's waterways due to their ability to resist water erosion better than the sedimentary rocks they once overlaid. The most visible rocks in the Gorge belong to the Surat Basin , which holds most of Queensland 's gas and oil and significant amounts of groundwater. The Surat Basin forms part of the Great Artesian Basin , and generates numerous springs within

2385-438: The national Beef Australia exposition to celebrate the cattle industry as well as to facilitate trade opportunities for Australian beef producers. Central Queensland is one of the world's leading producers and exporters of black coal . Ludwig Leichhardt was the first European to discover coal deposits in the region in 1845. In the 2011-2012 financial year the region produced 40% of the state's total coal production. Coal

2438-545: The opportunity to observe these creatures easily in the clear, shallow, spring-fed stream. Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service has a base at Carnarvon Gorge attached to the National Park Visitor Centre. The Visitor Centre is open 8am to 4pm every day and offers free wifi. The Carnarvon Gorge Day Use Area has picnic tables and toilet facilities and parking facilities for cars, motorhomes, and caravans. The Carnarvon Gorge Camping Area only opens during

2491-629: The park. For this purpose the area of Central Queensland was restricted to the areas encircled by the Dawson Highway between Gladstone and Springsure; the Gregory Highway between Springsure and Clermont, and the Peak Downs Highway between Clermont and enters North Queensland via Mackay – extended right to the eastern coastline. Major cities in the region are Emerald , Gladstone and Rockhampton . Some communities on

2544-536: The park. In place of the grazing of cattle, a tourism industry has grown. Over 70,000 visitors per annum make the trek to Carnarvon Gorge. Within the lower ten kilometres of the Gorge, visitors can encounter a variety of cultural and natural values that, elsewhere in the region, would require considerable travel to experience; significant Indigenous cultural sites and rock art sites, narrow sandstone canyons, extensive sandstone cliff lines, basalt-capped tablelands and mountain ranges, and relict rainforest vegetation. There

2597-449: The state's export earnings, the Fitzroy River is the second-largest river system in Australia and commands significant water resources such as Fairbairn Dam . Gladstone has a significant aluminium smelter. Rockhampton is claimed to be the beef capital of Australia, a title which is disputed by Casino in New South Wales. Beef production in the region is centred on Brigalow and speargrass land types. Every three years, Rockhampton holds

2650-494: The young of other bird species. Australian bustards ( Ardeotis australis ) are frequently seen in farmland on approach to the Gorge, along with brolgas if the weather has been wet. Communally breeding birds, such as the white-winged chough , the laughing kookaburra ( Dacelo novaeguineae ), and the apostlebird ( Struthidea cinerea ), are a feature of the ecosystems around the entrance to Carnarvon Gorge. Peregrine falcons ( Falco peregrinus ) and wedge-tailed eagles patrol

2703-582: Was Mitchell who named the Carnarvon Range , possibly after Henry Herbert, 3rd Earl of Carnarvon . The reports of pastureland and good water carried back to the colonies brought settlers to the area, and began a period of bloody conflict between settlers and Aboriginals . By the late 1870s the newcomers had prevailed. Local Aboriginals sought refuge on properties run by those sympathetic to their plight. Subsequent years would see many forcibly removed from their homelands and transferred to government and church run reserves and missions. The latter process of removal

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2756-503: Was found on a spotting job( Dasyurus Hallucatus ). freshwater turtles such as Kreffts river turtle ( Emydura krefftii ) and the saw-shelled turtle ( wollumbinia latisternum ) are in strong numbers in Carnarvon Creek, commonly seen sunning themselves on rocks and logs during the middle of the day. The National Park's invertebrate species are extremely diverse. Several species of insect have their entire distribution within

2809-489: Was not allowed due to the gorge being considered sacred. The dreamtime stories tell a tale of the Rainbow Serpent which made the gorges, and which resides in their permanent waterholes to this day. Ludwig Leichhardt was the first European explorer to pass nearby and make note of the ranges, during his expedition to Port Essington in 1844. Two years later, Thomas Mitchell passed to the west of Carnarvon Gorge. It

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