Central Queensland

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Central Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland (a state in Australia) that centers on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional center is Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast and the area extends west to the Central Highlands at Emerald, north to Mackay, and south to Gladstone. The region is also known as Capricornia.

Pedantically speaking, Central Queensland isn't technically the centre of Queensland geographically; Longreach is far more central, even along the coastline, Mackay is a more median distance between Brisbane and Cape York. Economically, while Central Queensland is an important centre of primary industries, the South East corner of Queensland is far more significant. Even so, Central Queensland includes the Bowen Basin which is rich in high quality coking coal, the port of Gladstone produces 40% of the state's export earnings, Rockhampton is the undisputed beef capital of Australia, and the region produces 50% of the state's electricity.

The Fitzroy River as it passes through Rockhampton.

[edit] Communities in Central Queensland

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 Mackay - extended right to the eastern coastline.