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Coordinates: 23°0′S 143°0′E / 23.000°S 143.000°E / -23.000; 143.000
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Template:Australia state or territory

23°0′S 143°0′E / 23.000°S 143.000°E / -23.000; 143.000 Queensland is a state of Australia that occupies the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory to the west, South Australia to the south-west and New South Wales to the south. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean. The state is Australia's second largest by area, following Western Australia, and the country's third most populous after New South Wales and Victoria.

The area was first occupied by Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders, who arrived between 40,000 and 65,000 years ago, according to various dating methods.[1] Later, Queensland was made a British Crown Colony that was separated from New South Wales on 6 June 1859, a date now celebrated state-wide as Queensland Day.

The area that currently forms the state capital, Brisbane, was originally the Moreton Bay penal colony, intended as a place for recidivist convicts who had offended while serving out their sentences in New South Wales. The state later encouraged free settlement, and today Queensland's economy is dominated by the agricultural, tourist and natural resource sectors.

The state's population is concentrated in South East Queensland, which includes Brisbane, Logan City, Redland City, Ipswich, Toowoomba, and the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Other major regional centres include Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Ingham and Mount Isa.

Queensland is often nicknamed the Sunshine State, since it enjoys warm weather and a sizeable portion of the state is in the tropics.

Etymology

The state was named in honour of Queen Victoria,[2] who on 6 June 1859 signed a proclamation separating the state from New South Wales. At the time, Queen Victoria was a generally popular monarch, and she preferred an eponymous name for the new colony over Cooksland, which had been suggested by the influential local Presbyterian minister John Dunmore Lang in honour of English navigator James Cook.[3][4]

History

Main article: History of Queensland

The history of Queensland spans thousands of years, encompassing both a lengthy indigenous presence, as well as the eventful times of post-European settlement. Estimated to have been settled by Indigenous Australians approximately 40,000 years ago, the north-eastern Australian region was explored by Dutch, Portuguese and French navigators before being encountered by Captain James Cook in 1770. The Australian Labor Party has its origin as a formal organisation in Queensland and the town of Barcaldine is the symbolic birthplace of the party.[5] The state has witnessed frontier warfare between European settlers and Indigenous inhabitants, as well as the employment of cheap Kanaka labour sourced from the South Pacific. June 2009 marked the 150 anniversary of its creation as a separate colony from New South Wales.[6]

Geography

Queensland cities, towns, settlements and road network
Main article: Geography of Queensland

Queensland is bordered to the north by the Torres Strait with Boigu Island off the coast of New Guinea representing the absolute northern extreme of the territory. The triangular Cape York Peninsula, which points toward New Guinea is the northernmost part of the state's mainland. West of the peninsula's tip, northern Queensland is bordered by the Gulf of Carpentaria, while the Coral Sea— an arm of the Pacific Ocean— borders Queensland to the east. To the west, Queensland is bordered by the Northern Territory, at the 138°E longitude, and to the south-west by the north-eastern corner of South Australia.

In the south, there are three sections that comprise its border: the watershed from Point Danger to the Dumaresq River; the river section involving the Dumaresq, the MacIntyre and the Barwon; and 29°S latitude (including some minor historical encroachments below the 29th parallel) over to the South Australian border.

The state capital is Brisbane, located on the coast 100 kilometres (60 mi) by road north of the New South Wales border. The fifth-largest city by area in the world, Mount Isa, is located in Queensland. The city area is in excess of 40,000 square kilometres (15,400 sq mi). The state is divided into several officially recognised regions. Other smaller geographical regions of note include the Atherton Tablelands, the Granite Belt, and the Channel Country in the far south-west.

Queensland has many places of natural beauty, including: the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast having some of the state's most popular beaches; the Bunya Mountains and the Great Dividing Range with numerous lookouts, waterfalls and picnic areas; Carnarvon Gorge; Whitsunday Islands and Hinchinbrook Island.

The state contains six World Heritage listed preservation areas: Australian Fossil Mammal Sites at Riversleigh in the Gulf Country, Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, Fraser Island, Great Barrier Reef, Lamington National Park and the Wet Tropics of Queensland.

Climate

Because of its size, there is significant variation in climate across the state. Low rainfall and hot summers are typical for the inland west, a monsoonal 'wet' season in the far north, and warm temperate conditions along the coastal strip. Inland and in southern ranges low minimum temperatures are experienced. The climate of the coastal strip is influenced by warm ocean waters, keeping the region free from extremes of temperature and providing moisture for rainfall.[7]

State capital and most populous city, Brisbane

There are five predominate climatic zones in Queensland,[8] based on temperature and humidity:

  • hot humid summer (far north and coastal)
  • warm humid summer (coastal elevated hinterlands and coastal south-east)
  • hot dry summer, mild winter (central west)
  • hot dry summer, cold winter (southern west)
  • temperate - warm summer, cold winter (inland south-east, e.g. Granite Belt)

However, most of the Queensland populace experience two weather seasons: a "winter" period of rather warm temperatures and minimal rainfall and a sultry summer period of hot, sticky temperatures and higher levels of rainfall.

The annual mean statistics[9] for some Queensland centres is shown below:

City Min. Temp Max. Temp No. Clear days Rainfall
Brisbane 15.7 °C (60.3 °F) 25.5 °C (77.9 °F) 113.1 1,149.1 mm (45.24 in)[10]
Mackay 19.0 °C (66.2 °F) 26.4 °C (79.5 °F) 123.0 1,570.7 mm (61.84 in)[11]
Cairns 20.8 °C (69.4 °F) 29.0 °C (84.2 °F) 89.7 2,006.3 mm (78.99 in)[12]
Townsville 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) 28.9 °C (84.0 °F) 120.9 1,136.7 mm (44.75 in)[13]

The highest maximum temperature observed in the state is 49.5 °C (121 °F) at Birdsville on 24 December 1972 (The temperature of 53.1 °C (128 °F) at Cloncurry on 16 January 1889 is not considered reliable; the figure quoted from Birdsville is the next highest, so that record is considered as being official).

The lowest minimum temperature is −10.6 °C (13 °F) at Stanthorpe on 23 June 1961 and at The Hermitage on 12 July 1965.[14]

Demographics

See also: Demographics of Australia
Queensland has a less centralised population than other states, with significant populations in regional cities such as Townsville.
Queensland
population by year
1901 498,129
1954 1,318,259
1961 1,518,828
1971 1,851,485
1981 2,345,208
1991 3,029,950
2001 3,628,946
2007 4,181,400
2011 4,516,200
2021 6,553,300
2056 10,921,300
Source: Australian Bureau
of Statistics[15][16]

A smaller proportion of Queensland's population lives in the capital city than any other mainland state. As of June 2004 the capital city represented 45.7% of the population; for the whole country, capital cities represented 63.8% of the total population.

On 9 December 2005, the population of Queensland officially reached 4 million. According to Queensland's Office of Economic and Statistical Research the estimated population of the state at the end of 2007 was 4,228,290 which is almost 20% of Australia's total. Until 2008, Queensland was the fastest growing state in Australia. At its peak growth in 2007 over 1,500 people moved to the state per week including 1,000 in the southern part of the state alone and the state recorded a TFR of 2.1, the highest since 1977.[17] Queensland's growth rate has since been surpassed by Western Australia[18]).

Urban and rural

YEAR Urban Rural TOTAL
1861 15,348 14,711 30,059
1864 30,954 30,513 61,467
1868 40,306 59,595 99,901
1871 51,425 68,679 120,104
1876 95,775 77,508 173,283
1881 112,323 101,202 213,525
1886 116,056 206,797 322,853
1891 168,884 224,834 393,718
1901 204,871 293,258 498,129
1911 n.a. n.a. 605,813
1921 393,666 359,014 755,972
1933 498,892 444,589 947,534
1947 660,958 443,570 1,106,415
1954 962,400 352,888 1,318,259
1961 1,158,446 358,394 1,518,828
1966 1,282,332 398,297 1,682,688
1971 1,448,024 375,376 1,827,065
1976 1,633,141 401,754 2,037,194
1981 1,816,382 476,264 2,295,123
1986 2,041,542 542,944 2,587,315
1991 2,359,510 616,907 2,977,810
1996 2,721,115 647,735 3,368,850
2001 3,050,553 602,697 3,655,139
2006 3,456,104 588,945 4,046,875
Source: Queensland Government Office of Economic & Statistical Research[19]

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Queensland and Australian economy
Sugar canefields south of Childers

Queensland's economy has enjoyed a boom in the tourism and mining industries over the past 20 years. A sizeable influx of interstate and overseas migrants, large amounts of federal government investment, increased mining of vast mineral deposits and an expanding aerospace sector have contributed to the state's economic growth. The 2008-09 saw the expansion slow to just 0.8% the state's worst performance in 18 years.[20]

Between 1992 and 2002, the growth in the Gross State Product of Queensland outperformed that of all the other states and territories. In that period Queensland's GSP grew 5.0% each year, while growth in Australia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose on average 3.9% each year. Queensland's contribution to the Australian GDP increased by 10.4% in that period, one of only three states to do so.[21]

In 2003 Brisbane had the lowest cost of living of all Australia's capital cities. In late 2005 Brisbane was the third most expensive capital for housing after Sydney and Canberra and just ahead of Melbourne by $15,000. By 2008, Queensland had the least affordable housing of any state or territory.[22]

Primary industries include: bananas, pineapples, peanuts, a wide variety of other tropical and temperate fruit and vegetables, grain crops, wineries, cattle raising, cotton, sugar cane, wool and a mining industry including bauxite, coal, silver, lead, zinc, gold, and copper. Secondary industries are mostly further processing of the above-mentioned primary produce. For example, bauxite is shipped by sea from Weipa and converted to alumina at Gladstone.[23] There is also copper refining and the refining of sugar cane to sugar at a number of mills along the eastern coastline. Major tertiary industries are the retail trade and tourism.

Tourism

The Great Barrier Reef
The Gold Coast is a major Tourist city
Surfers Paradise skyline seen from the south

Tourism is Queensland's leading tertiary industry with millions of interstate and overseas visitors flocking to the Sunshine State each year. The industry generates $4.0 billion annually, accounting for 4.5% of Queensland's GSP.[24] Queensland is a state of many landscapes that range from sunny tropical coastal areas, lush rainforests to dry inland areas.

The main tourist destinations of Queensland include, Brisbane, Far North Queensland including Cairns, Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest, Gold Coast, the Great Barrier Reef, Hervey Bay and nearby Fraser Island, North Queensland including Townsville and Magnetic Island, North Stradbroke Island and South Stradbroke Island, the Sunshine Coast and the Whitsundays known for Airlie Beach, Whitehaven Beach, Hamilton Island and Daydream Island.

The Gold Coast of Queensland is also sometimes referred to as "Australia's Theme Park Capital", with five major amusement parks. These are Dreamworld, Movie World, Sea World, Wet 'n' Wild and WhiteWater World.

There are also wildlife parks in Queensland, including:

Gold Coast
Sunshine Coast
Brisbane
North of Brisbane

Accommodation in Queensland caters for nearly 22% of the total expenditure, followed by restaurants/meals (15%), airfares (11%), fuel (11%) and shopping/gifts (11%).[25]

See also: Tourism in Brisbane

Transport

See also: Transportation in Australia
Cairns International Airport

Queensland is served by a number of National Highways and, particularly in South East Queensland, high quality motorways such as the M1.

Principal rail services are provided by Queensland Rail and Pacific National, predominantly along the coamajor ports including the Port of Brisbane and subsidiary ports at Gladstone and Townsville.

Jet Vehicle services are Provided by Greenhouse Energy, Queensland Transport, Department of Main Roads, Defence Force Reserve of Queensland, Brisbane Jet Taxi and Australian Jetlines, Predominatly along the Airports, including the Brisbane Airport, Gold Coast Airport and Cairns Airport.

Brisbane Airport is the main international and domestic gateway serving the state. Gold Coast Airport and Cairns International Airport are the two next most prominent airports, both with scheduled international flights. Other regional airports, with scheduled domestic flights, include Great Barrier Reef Airport, Hervey Bay Airport, Mackay Airport, Mount Isa Airport, Proserpine / Whitsunday Coast Airport, Rockhampton Airport, Sunshine Coast Airport and Townsville Airport.

South East Queensland is governed by an integrated public transport system, TransLink, which provides bus, rail and ferry services. Regional bus andlong-distance rail services are also provided throughout the State. Local bus services are also available in most regional centres.

Government

Main article: Government of Queensland
The Parliament House in Brisbane.

Executive authority is vested in the Governor, who represents and is appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of the Premier. The current governor is Ms. Penelope Wensley, AO. The head of government is the Premier, who is appointed by the Governor but must have the support of the Legislative Assembly. The current Premier is Anna Bligh, of the Australian Labor Party. Other ministers, forming the Executive Council, are appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Assembly on the Premier's recommendation.

The Queensland Parliament or the Legislative Assembly, is unicameral. It is the only Australian state with a unicameral legislature. A bicameral system existed until 1922, when the Legislative Council was abolished by the Labor members' "suicide squad," so called because they were appointed for the purpose of voting to abolish their own offices. The Parliament is housed in the 19th century Parliament House and 20th century Parliamentary Annexe in Brisbane.

The judicial system of Queensland consists of the Supreme Court and the District Court, established by the Queensland Constitution, and various other courts and tribunals established by ordinary Acts of the Queensland Parliament.

In 2001 Queensland adopted a new codified constitution, repealing most of the assorted Acts of Parliament that had previously made up the constitution. The new constitution took effect on 6 June 2002, the anniversary of the formation of the colony of Queensland by the signing of Letters Patent by Queen Victoria in 1859.

Universities

Bond University in Robina

Sports

The Brisbane Broncos are one of the most successful teams in the National Rugby League competition
The Queensland Bulls take part in Australia's domestic cricket tournaments
Main article: Sport in Queensland

The state of Queensland is represented in all of Australia's national sporting competitions and is also host to a number of domestic and international sporting events. The most popular summer and winter team sports are Rugby league, Rugby union and cricket, respectively. The annual rugby league State of Origin series is a major event in the Queensland sporting calendar, with the Queensland Maroons in 2010 winning a record fifth series in a row. The Brisbane Broncos are the state's most successful sports team, having won 3 premierships in the NRL rugby league era and 6 in total during their 23 year existence.

Swimming is also a popular sport in Queensland, with a majority of Australian team members and international medalists hailing from the state. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Queensland swimmers won all six of Australia's gold medals, all swimmers on Australia's three female (finals) relays teams were from Queensland, two of which won gold. Queensland also currently dominates the State of Origin series, winning the series for a record fifth year in a row.

Major professional teams include:

Events include:

See also

Lists:

References

  1. ^ Australia. "Dreaming Online: Indigenous Australian Timeline". Dreamtime.net.au. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  2. ^ Place Names
  3. ^ "Dictionary of Australian Biography". Gutenberg.net.au. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  4. ^ "Queensland Government - Q150". Q150.qld.gov.au. 2010-06-11. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  5. ^ Karl Bitar. "Labor History: Timeline: Foundations: Colonial Origins". Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  6. ^ "Queensland's History". Qld.gov.au. 2009-01-29. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  7. ^ National Climate Centre. "Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology - Climate of Queensland". Bom.gov.au. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  8. ^ "Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology - Australian climatic zones". Bom.gov.au. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  9. ^ "Australian Government, Bureau of Meteorology - Climate statistics for Australian locations". Bom.gov.au. 2010-07-19. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  10. ^ "Brisbane Regional Office". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  11. ^ "Mackay M.O." Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  12. ^ "Cairns Aero". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  13. ^ "Townsville Aero". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  14. ^ "Rainfall and Temperature Records: National" (PDF). Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
  15. ^ "ABS.gov.au". ABS.gov.au. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  16. ^ "ABS.gov.au". ABS.gov.au. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  17. ^ "3301.0 - Births, Australia, 2008". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  18. ^ Tara Ravens (2008-07-02). "Couriermail.com.au". Couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  19. ^ Queensland Government Office of Economic & Statistical Research, Historical Tables, Demography, 1823 to 2008 (Q150 release), Population, urban and rural, Queensland, 1861 to 2006 (accessed 25th November 2010, xls file)
  20. ^ Tom Dusevic (17 December 2009). "Queensland falls back with the pack". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  21. ^ "1387.3 - Queensland in Review, 2003". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  22. ^ Torny Jensen (28 May 2008). "Queensland housing now the most unaffordable". Courier Mail. Queensland Newspapers. Retrieved 9 January 2010. [dead link]
  23. ^ "Gladstone". Comalco.com. Rio Tinto Aluminium. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  24. ^ "About TQ - Profile". Tourism Queensland. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  25. ^ "Tourism related information and statistics". Discoverqueensland.com.au. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
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