Shire of Peak Downs

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Shire of Peak Downs
Queensland

Location within Queensland
Population: 3,285 (2001 census)
Council Seat: Capella
Region: Central Queensland
Website: http://www.peakdowns.qld.gov.au/index.shtml
LGAs around Shire of Peak Downs:
Belyando Broadsound Broadsound
Belyando Shire of Peak Downs Broadsound
Jericho Emerald Emerald

Shire of Peak Downs is a Local Government Area located in the Central Highlands of Queensland, Australia, 320km west of both Rockhampton and Mackay. It has about 4,000 inhabitants, the primary economic activities in the shire are coal mining, farming and grazing.

The Shire is part of the Bowen Basin, a major coal deposit. Mining began in the shire in the late 1970s with the opening of Gregory Mine in 1979, which was followed by Mount Isa Mines' Oaky Creek Coal Mine in 1983. Oaky Creek was also the reason behind the construction of the township of Tieri, whose sole purpose was to house the workforce that was required to operate Oaky Creek. Three more mines were opened in the 1990s – Ensham/Yongala, Crinum and Gordonstone (later purchased by Rio Tinto and renamed Kestrel Mine).

Peak Downs is also an area of intensive argricultural production, which is made possible by its black soil plains and is typified by the abundance and variety of grains in the Shire. Grains planted include sorghum, wheat, barley, sunflower and more recently chickpeas.

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