69-668: Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland , Australia. In the 2021 census , 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
138-745: A confederation of several groups, the main ones being the Karranbal, the Maudalgo, and the Mulkali. No further data were recorded to enable ethnographer Norman Tindale to clarify the precise nature of the last two groups, but the AUSTLANG database by AIATSIS reports that the Karranbal is the Garaynbal (Garingbal) dialect of Biri and Maudalgo is a variant name of the Wadjigu language and people,
207-482: A joint venture with Teys Australia. In 2011, Cargill bought out CMG's share in the company. Due to drought, floods, general economic conditions and disputes with workers, both facilities have experienced a number of closures over the years including the closure of the Lakes Creek meatworks from 2002 until 2004, but they are both currently operating as normal. The Central Queensland Livestock Exchange at Gracemere
276-630: A lake 60 kilometres (37 mi) long. The barrage was funded by the Rockhampton City Council to provide a reliable source of water to the city, and to effectively drought proof Rockhampton. In 2002, a study showed that salinity was increasing in the Fitzroy Basin and, while only small areas of land were severely affected by salinity, urged that steps be taken to manage salinity by good irrigation practices and better management of tree clearing. In 1989, two bombs exploded inside
345-663: A referendum. Before the 2008 amalgamation, the City of Rockhampton had a population of approximately 74,530, Fitzroy Shire approximately 11,357, and Mount Morgan Shire approximately 2,925 people. Proposed boundary changes between Rockhampton Regional Council and Livingstone Shire Council are under review by the Local Government Change Commission. The changes relate to three suburbs contiguous with Rockhampton City which are presently part of Livingstone Shire. The proposed changes will affect 1170 properties in
414-505: A reliable water supply and at the time of its amalgamation was still trying to raise funds for a dam. The Fitzroy Division was proclaimed on 6 April 1899 out of the southern part of Gogango. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902 , Rockhampton became one of three former municipalities, alongside Brisbane and Townsville , to become a City on 31 March 1903, while North Rockhampton and Mount Morgan became Towns and
483-464: A secessionist movement with the intentions of breaking away from the state of Queensland. The core argument of movement was that the seat of government, Brisbane was in the south-east corner of 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
552-541: A trip to India as part of a delegation of Mayors from Regional Queensland . Strelow publicly stated that she refuted the findings, and that her refusal to agree to having been personally compromised was a matter of personal integrity, but that she had resigned her position in light of the findings. Following an amendment made to the Local Government Act 2009 (Qld) only a few months prior, Strelow's resignation less than 12 months after being elected meant that
621-517: A wool shed just downstream of a bar of rocks that prevented further upstream navigation from the coast. These rocks were incorporated with the traditional English term for a village, and the name "Rockhampton" was first coined by Charles Archer and the local Commissioner from Crown Lands, William Wiseman. In 1855, Scottish colonists and brothers William Thomas Elliott and George Mackenzie Elliot arrived at Gracemere and soon after, took up landholdings at Canoona , north of present-day Yaamba . Their father
690-498: 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
759-664: Is a local government area (LGA) in Central Queensland , Australia, located on the Tropic of Capricorn about 600 kilometres (370 mi) north of Brisbane . Rockhampton is the region's major city; the region also includes the Fitzroy River , Mount Archer National Park and Berserker Range . In the 2021 census , the Rockhampton Region had a population of 81,968 people. Established in 2008, it
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#1732765033142828-528: Is exemplified by the Fitzroy River ; which has a lengthy, well documented history of flood records dating back to 1859. The highest recorded flood occurred in January 1918 and reached 10.11 m (33.2 ft). More recently, being affected by the 2010–2011 Queensland floods the Fitzroy River peaked at 9.2 metres on 5 January 2011. Rockhampton has a number of heritage-listed sites. For details see
897-561: Is one of Australia's most significant 19th century streetscapes and is listed on the National Trust ; the quarter comprises three city blocks along Quay street, from Fitzroy to Derby street, and is known for its neoclassical architecture , dining and nightlife . Some of the historical sites and landmarks of the city include; St Aubins , Kenmore House , the Alexandra Railway Bridge , St Joseph's Cathedral and
966-545: Is one of the largest livestock sales facilities in the country, lies just to the west of the city. Rockhampton promotes itself as the Beef Capital of Australia but the title has been disputed a number of times by the New South Wales town of Casino . The tri-annual Beef Australia Expo held in the city is a celebration of the local area's cattle industry. Rockhampton Region The Rockhampton Region
1035-569: Is the only Australian university with a campus presence in every mainland state. The city is served by Rockhampton Airport , and Port Alma , located at the south end of the Fitzroy river delta. Rockhampton is renowned for its architecture, cuisine, and music; in particular for its jazz scene, and has been sometimes referred to as the " Melbourne of the North "; in reference to the city's tree-lined boulevards and laneways. The city's historic quarter
1104-611: 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
1173-502: The Divisional Boards Act 1879 . It covered an area of 16,239 km (6,270 sq mi) surrounding the municipality—an area significantly greater than the modern Rockhampton Region covers. Capital and people came to the area in greater numbers after the discovery of gold in 1882 at Mount Morgan , about 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Rockhampton. A Municipal Borough was proclaimed there on 22 May 1890. A bridge
1242-675: The Dreamtime Cultural Centre . The Capricorn district is the traditional home of the Darumbal Aboriginal people . The Darumbal (Tarumbul, Tharoombool) language region includes the city of Rockhampton extending south towards Raglan Creek and north towards the Styx River and inland along the Broad Sound Ranges. The Gangulu (Kangulu, Kanolu, Kaangooloo, Khangulu) language region includes
1311-554: The Fitzroy River , approximately 45 kilometres (28 mi) from where the river enters the Coral Sea , and some 600 kilometres (370 mi) north of the state capital, Brisbane . Rockhampton has a north and south side with three bridges connecting the two sides, one for trains and two for vehicles and people. Rockhampton lies just north of the Tropic of Capricorn in Central Queensland. A sculpture originally marking
1380-656: The List of heritage listed buildings in Rockhampton . Rockhampton is governed by the Rockhampton Regional Council . The Council consists of a mayor and seven councillors. The Mayor is elected by the public, and the Councillors are elected from seven single-member divisions using an optional preferential voting system. Elections are held every four years. Tony Williams is the current mayor after
1449-729: The Mount Morgan area in Queensland , Australia. At least one variant name for the Kangulu, Kaangooloo , was formed from the word for "no", ka:ngu . The Gangulu language is considered to be a dialect of Biri , belonging to the Greater Maric languages . Gangulu traditional lands occupied an estimated 16,000 square kilometres (6,000 sq mi) about the Dawson River as far south as Banana and Theodore . To
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#17327650331421518-511: 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. The economy of Rockhampton has strengths in tourism, health, and agriculture, with a GRP of $ 5.7 billion as of 2023. The Central Queensland University founded in 1967, has its main campus at Norman Gardens , and
1587-467: The Municipalities Act 1858 , a piece of New South Wales legislation inherited by Queensland when it became a separate colony in 1859. It held its first election on 26 February 1861 and its inaugural meeting on 1 March 1861. The municipality had an area of 13 km (5.0 sq mi) located on the south bank of the Fitzroy River and had a population of about 600. In 1864, the council
1656-1056: The Shire of Livingstone The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. The census in 2011 was the first for the new Region, while the census in 2016 reflects the deamalgamation of the Shire of Livingstone. Rockhampton Regional Council operates a headquarters public library at 230 Bolsover Street, Rockhampton ("Southside"). Branch libraries are located in Berserker ("Rockhampton North"), Gracemere , Mount Morgan and West Rockhampton ("Anytime" at Rockhampton Airport ). The council owns six business units which are city-owned enterprises managed on commercial lines: 23°22′29.97″S 150°30′42.02″E / 23.3749917°S 150.5116722°E / -23.3749917; 150.5116722 Kangulu The Gangulu people, also written Kangulu , Kaangooloo , Ghungalu and other variations, are an Aboriginal Australian people from
1725-519: The latitude was later moved into town to be more accessible to tourists. Although the Tropic of Capricorn is represented on maps as a "dotted line" that lies at 23 ° 26' 22", there is actually a bio-geographical overlap of Tropical and Temperate zones more than 500 kilometres (310 mi) wide; Rockhampton is roughly at its centre on the East Coast of Australia. The city is located on the banks of
1794-561: The 1880s and '90s, sea ports were established on the coast, adjacent to the mouth of the Fitzroy River. Broadmount was on the northern side and Port Alma on the south. Railways were subsequently constructed to carry goods to the wharves at these locations, with the railway to Broadmount opening on 1 January 1898 and the line to Port Alma opening on 16 October 1911. Maintenance on the Broadmount line ceased in August 1929. The following month,
1863-438: The 1890s, and many of the town's substantial brick and stone public buildings date from this period. The historic streetscape of Quay Street still displays a number of substantial historic buildings, built when Rockhampton was envisaged as being capital of a state of North Queensland. Most prominent of these is the sandstone Customs House (1900), which today houses an information centre. Other important 19th-century buildings include
1932-450: The 2021 mayoral by-election following the resignation of long time mayor Margaret Strelow. Margaret Strelow won the mayoral elections in 2013, 2016 and March 2020. Strelow had also served as Mayor of the former City of Rockhampton from 2000 to 2008. The present Rockhampton Regional Council area was formed as a result of the 2008 amalgamation of four local government areas. These were the original City of Rockhampton which comprised most of
2001-663: The Australian Café, the brothers renamed it the Busy Bee Café. During the Second World War, a US army base was established outside the city; it hosted up to 70,000 servicemen en route to action in the Pacific and New Guinea . On 2 March 1949, Rockhampton was severely damaged by a cyclone . The Fitzroy River Barrage was commissioned in 1971. The barrage has a capacity of 81,300 megalitres and holds back
2070-708: The Central Queensland Territorial Separation League, the women of Rockhampton established their own separation league in October 1892. The inaugural meeting of the Women's Central Queensland Territorial Separation League was held at the Rockhampton School of Arts and attended by 200 women. Their main focus was preparing a petition to Queen Victoria . The introductory text set out their grievances and described
2139-588: The Fitzroy River and its many tributaries and lagoons, the region continued to expand rapidly. In 1858, the town of Rockhampton was officially proclaimed. The town was surveyed at this time and the first sales of building allotments were held that year. In 1859, gold was discovered at Canoona. 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
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2208-723: The Fitzroy River, approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the river mouth. The Berserker Range lies on the eastern side of the city, with the Athelstane Range to the west. The coastal area to the east of the city is known as the Capricorn Coast , with the rapidly growing town of Yeppoon its major centre. Rockhampton experiences a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen: Cfa) with hot, humid summers and very mild, relatively dry winters with cool nights. The city receives 116.3 days of clear skies annually, primarily in winter. The highest recorded temperature in Rockhampton
2277-536: The Kensington Estate, described as just three miles from "the most rapidly rising town and district in the whole of the colonies" was advertised for sale. During the 1860s and '70s, Rockhampton developed as the main port for the developing Central Queensland hinterland, the main export at that time being wool. A Primitive Methodist Church opened in Fitzroy Street, Rockhampton, in January 1864. In
2346-769: The Post Office (1892), the Supreme Court House (1888), and St Joseph's Cathedral (1892). In September 1892 the Anglican Church in Rockhampton was the first new building in Rockhampton to be lit by electricity from the new gasworks. It was also the first church in Australia to be lit with electricity. In 1889 the people of Rockhampton established the Central Queensland Territorial Separation League ,
2415-472: The Rockhampton metropolitan area, the Shire of Fitzroy comprising Gracemere and surrounding districts, and the Shire of Mount Morgan around the town of Mount Morgan itself. The fourth local government area was the Shire of Livingstone which comprised the adjacent coastal towns and hinterland to the east and north of Rockhampton as well as some outlying Rockhampton suburbs. However, Livingstone Shire de-amalgamated from Rockhampton Region in 2014 following
2484-576: The Rockhampton township began in July 1856, when Richard Palmer travelled from Gladstone with an escort of Native Police under sub-Lieutenant Walter Powell to set up a store. Powell arrived at the site first and constructed the Native Police barracks. This was the first habitable British building established at Rockhampton and it was located on the south bank of the Fitzroy River at the end of Albert Street. With abundant grazing lands and waters from
2553-703: The Shark Nightclub, causing injuries and extensive damage to the building. The following year, the Factory Nightclub was also damaged by a bomb. It is not known who planted the bombs. In 2003, Rockhampton was the centre of significant national media interest after local teenager Natasha Ryan was found in the North Rockhampton home of her boyfriend, Scott Black, after being missing for five years. Serial killer Leonard Fraser had been charged with her murder, as her disappearance occurred in
2622-547: The area in 1844 and 1846 and noted suitable land for grazing then. In January 1854, the New South Wales government proclaimed two new districts: Port Curtis and Leichhardt (roughly today's Fitzroy Region), and the Archer brothers returned in August 1855 to set up their pastoral run at Gracemere . The Fitzroy River provided a convenient waterway for shipping of supplies and produce, and the Archer brothers constructed
2691-522: The companies experience difficulty finding local workers to fill vacancies. One meat processing plant is located at Lakes Creek, operated by Teys Australia (a Cargill joint venture) while the JBS meatworks is located at Nerimbera. The Teys Australia meatworks at Lakes Creek was previously owned by Kerry Packer 's Consolidated Meat Group. CMG temporarily closed the facility in 2002. It was reopened in 2004, when Consolidated Meat Group announced they had formed
2760-531: The council was restructured with 10 divisions each electing one councillor, plus a mayor elected by the entire City. On 1 July 1984, the City grew northwards by annexing Parkhurst , where its water treatment facility was being constructed, from the Shire of Livingstone. The council tried on several occasions to expand further into the Livingstone and Fitzroy areas, but a referendum in Fitzroy on 9 February 1991
2829-437: The divisions of Gogango and Fitzroy became Shires. Gogango was renamed Livingstone on 8 August 1903. The State Government became concerned in 1918 after both the City of Rockhampton and Town of North Rockhampton councils proposed separate water infrastructure projects. On Saturday 25 January 1919, an amalgamation referendum held in North Rockhampton passed with 884 of the 1,029 votes cast in favour. On 15 March 1919, elections for
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2898-588: The employees of the Elliots. William Thomas Elliot and his men opened fire at random upon the group which fled after a short time. William and an employee were wounded (the employee reportedly died) and about seven of the local inhabitants were killed. Fellow colonist, Charles Archer of Gracemere and a group of Native Police troopers later pursued these Aboriginal people toward the east and punished them further. Local Aboriginal people friendly to Archer were also fired upon, killing one. Permanent British settlement at
2967-535: The floor and pictures falling off walls. The 1918 earthquake remains as the largest to have ever hit Queensland since European settlement. Restaurant proprietors, Emanuel, William and Nicholas Economos, trading as the Economos Bros., ran their business in East Street, Rockhampton. East Street was a bustling metropolis when the brothers opened their traditional Greek café in the 1920s. Previously known as
3036-535: The following day that the Queensland Government would amend the Act to roll back the changes and force a by-election for the role of Mayor as soon as the newly-elected Queensland Parliament had been sworn in. Following Strelow's resignation as Mayor, it was announced that Deputy Mayor Neil Fisher would fill the role of Acting Mayor until a replacement had been elected. On 4 February 2021, Tony Williams
3105-504: The immense size of Queensland: being twelve times the area of England and Wales, and larger than France, Germany, Spain and Portugal combined. The State Library of Queensland holds the original petition, signed by over 3000 women who were in support of Central Queensland becoming a separate state. The petition was forwarded to Queen Victoria but was dismissed by the Premier of Queensland, Sir Samuel Walker Griffith. The City of Rockhampton
3174-609: The nearby Central Park. The Rockhampton Botanic Gardens are one of the oldest public gardens in the country, being founded in 1869 and is also the location of the Rockhampton War Memorial , as well as the Rockhampton Zoo . Rockhampton has nationally prominent cultural institutions, including; the Rockhampton Museum of Art (RMOA), one of the most extensive regional galleries in Australia, and
3243-548: The new four-ward council with 11 councillors took place, with their first meeting being held five days later. North Rockhampton's chambers, located in Stapleton Park, North Rockhampton , became a Main Roads office for about four decades, and eventually was restored and, since 1985, has been the home of Rockhampton and District Historical Society. Wards were abolished at some point and were not reintroduced until 1982, when
3312-636: The new town's population. Conflict with Aboriginal people in the region continued and further massacres occurred. In 1859, John Arthur Macartney attempted to stock his cousin's Belmont property just to the north of Rockhampton when a shepherd was killed by local Aboriginal men. 2nd Lieutenant Frederick Carr of the Native Police together with his troopers, the Macartneys, Peter Fitzallan MacDonald and Henry Brisdon, formed an armed group which set out to track down those responsible. The group followed
3381-522: The northwest, they extended as far as the Mackenzie River and the vicinity of Duaringa and Coomooboolaroo. Their eastern frontier lay towards Biloela , Mount Morgan , Gogango Range , and the upper Don River . Thangool and the headwaters of Grevillea Creek marked its southeastern limits. A correspondent of E. M. Curr , Peter McIntosh, a resident of the area, stated that the Gangulu were
3450-476: The only provincial city in Queensland to have a street tramway. Purrey steam trams ran on a number of routes throughout South Rockhampton, totalling 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of track. The discomfort of passengers riding in steam trams in a tropical climate in part led to their demise in 1939, replaced by a bus network run by the City Council. Strong shaking was felt in Rockhampton when the "Great Queensland Earthquake of 1918" occurred on 7 June 1918. The earthquake
3519-543: The period in which Fraser had abducted and murdered other women and girls. An anonymous tip-off during Fraser's trial led to the discovery of Ryan. Despite Ryan's discovery, Fraser's defence did not seek a mistrial and Fraser was convicted of the murders of other women and girls and was given an indefinite life sentence. On 20 February 2015, Rockhampton was severely damaged by Cyclone Marcia damaging hundreds of homes and businesses with wind speeds over 150 kilometres per hour (93 mph) recorded in Rockhampton. Major flooding
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#17327650331423588-406: The position of Mayor would immediately pass to the runner-up from the Mayoral election of March 2020. The only other candidate in that election had been local environmental activist, Chris "Pineapple" Hooper, who had received less than a third of votes cast in the election. Following uproar over Hooper's "accidental" elevation to the Mayoralty, Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe announced
3657-483: The suburbs of Glenlee, Rockyview, and Glendale. The agricultural sector, specifically the cattle trade, is a dominant industry in Central Queensland. The latter has been visually represented around Rockhampton City with a set of seven large statues of bulls known as the ' Big Bulls '. Two large abattoirs are located on the south-eastern outskirts of Rockhampton provides employment for people living in Rockhampton and also for refugees from overseas who are recruited when
3726-428: The towns of Clermont and Springsure extending south towards the Dawson River , and includes parts of Rockhampton and South Rockhampton. The British colonisation of the area began in 1853, when the Archer brothers , Charles and William, who were seeking grazing lands arrived in the Rockhampton area. They were acting on information from earlier expeditions by Ludwig Leichhardt and Thomas Mitchell , who had explored
3795-408: The tracks and "dispersed" them. One account of this incident describes how around hundred of the tribe were rounded up and "it ended in the usual way and the bulk of the wild mob were shot." By 1861, the town boasted a regular newspaper, banks, court house, and school of arts. Direct shipments of imported goods and migrants from the United Kingdom began to be received during the 1860s. In 1862, land in
3864-405: The wharf caught fire and the line was effectively closed in July 1930. The line to Port Alma closed on 15 October 1986. The significant gold deposit at Mount Morgan to the southwest was discovered in the 1880s, and Rockhampton became the main port through which the wealth of Mount Morgan gold was channelled. Due to the wealth of Mount Morgan, Rockhampton weathered the severe economic depression of
3933-414: Was 45.3 °C (113.5 °F), while the lowest was −1.0 °C (30.2 °F). Furthermore, the highest recorded 24-hour rainfall total was 348.0 millimetres (13.70 in) due to the January 2013 Eastern Australia floods . In summer, Rockhampton is subject to summer thunderstorms, and lying within the cyclone risk zone, it has experienced several large floods cyclones since European settlement. This
4002-438: Was James Elliot, 3rd Laird of Wolfelee House near Hawick in Scotland. One of their other brothers was Walter Elliot of the East India Company and secretary to the governor of the Madras Presidency . In January 1856, after a massacre of local Aboriginal people perpetrated by Lieutenant John Murray of the Native Police at nearby Nankin Creek, some 200 Aboriginal men, women and children came to Canoona and began shouting at
4071-442: Was able to get a loan to construct a Municipal Chambers in 1885, which was completed in December of that year. The town clerk's arrest for embezzlement in 1890 marked the beginning of a period of difficulties characterised by disputes with the surrounding Gogango Divisional Board over road construction, and internal conflict between members of council, in which the Queensland Government was often requested to intervene. It did not have
4140-438: Was built spanning the Fitzroy River in 1882, and a year later in September 1883, the North Rockhampton Borough was proclaimed. North Rockhampton had a somewhat unhappy 36-year existence—its small population and location opposite the stronger and wealthier Rockhampton borough made comparisons inevitable and development of its own identity almost impossible. In 1919, it was described as a "small and straggling hamlet". Nevertheless, it
4209-438: Was divided into three wards—Fitzroy, Archer and Leichhardt. A proposal to greatly expand its area southwards to include Gracemere and Bouldercombe was rejected in part due to opposition from influential squatters in the area. It achieved a measure of autonomy in 1878 with the enactment of the Local Government Act . On 11 November 1879, the Gogango Divisional Board was established as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under
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#17327650331424278-451: Was elected as mayor. In 2024, Strelow was exonerated as a review by QCAT found that the official hospitality was not required to have been listed on the particular register in question. It also commented that it was "clearly highly regrettable that this matter has taken so long to be dealt with". The Rockhampton Region includes the following settlements: Rockhampton area Mount Morgan area Fitzroy area - shared with
4347-774: Was experienced in the upper reaches of the Fitzroy River after more than 250mm were recorded. The cyclone left about 100,000 properties across Central Queensland without power. According to the 2016 census , there were 76,985 people in Rockhampton. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 7.2% of the population. 82.8% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were New Zealand 1.4%, England 1.3%, Philippines 1.1%, India 0.6% and Vietnam 0.4%. 86.4% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Vietnamese 0.5%, Tagalog 0.5%, Portuguese 0.3%, Filipino 0.3% and Mandarin 0.3% The most common responses for religion were Catholic 26.5%, No Religion 22.6% and Anglican 17.1%. The town lies on
4416-399: Was felt from Mackay in the north, to Grafton in New South Wales, and west to Charleville . Estimated to have reached a 6.0 magnitude, the earthquake caused some damage to buildings including chimney stacks crumbling, plaster being dislodged from walls and ceilings, water tanks bursting and trees being uprooted. Houses and buildings experienced considerable swaying with crockery smashing on
4485-419: Was of particular concern. On 15 March 2008, the City and Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council. In 2012, a proposal was made to de-amalgamate the Shire of Livingstone from the Rockhampton Region. On 9 March 2013, the citizens of the former Livingstone shire voted in a referendum to de-amalgamate. The Shire of Livingstone
4554-418: Was opposed by 83% of valid votes cast. In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released a report making recommendations for statewide reform of local government boundaries, and recommended that the four areas of Rockhampton, Fitzroy, Livingstone and Mount Morgan amalgamate, due to a community of interest centred upon Rockhampton. The very weak sustainability rating given to the Shire of Mount Morgan
4623-487: Was preceded by four previous local government areas extending to almost the beginning of local government in Queensland. On 1 January 2014, one of those local government areas, the Shire of Livingstone was restored as an independent council. Prior to the 2008 amalgamation, the Rockhampton Region existed as four distinct local government areas: Rockhampton was proclaimed as Queensland's fourth municipality (after Brisbane , Ipswich and Toowoomba ) on 13 December 1860 under
4692-486: Was proclaimed in 1902. The rail connection south to Brisbane was completed in 1903, but it was not until 1921 that the northern connection to Mackay was finally completed. A railway west from Rockhampton was started in 1867 and by 1892 had reached the terminus at Longreach , 700 kilometres (430 mi) away. This further strengthened Rockhampton's role as the port for the whole of Central Queensland. A passenger tramway began operating on 16 June 1909, making Rockhampton
4761-559: Was re-established on 1 January 2014. The Council consists of a Mayor and seven Councillors. The Mayor is elected by the public, and the Councillors are elected from seven single-member divisions using an optional preferential voting system. Elections are held every four years. Margaret Strelow resigned the mayoralty on Monday 9 November 2020, following an adverse finding at the Councillor Conduct Tribunal. The misconduct finding related to non-disclosure, or incorrect disclosure, of corporate hospitality received by mining company Adani during
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