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The railway station of Emerald, QueenslandSource: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EmeraldRailway.JPG
Author: Cgoodwin
Emerald is a town in Central Queensland, Australia. It is on the Nogoa River, which flows into the Fitzroy River, in the Central Highlands, about 270 km west from Rockhampton, just south of the Tropic of Capricorn.
Prussian explorer and naturalist Ludwig Leichhardt was the first European to arrive in the Emerald area. The town itself was started in 1879. It developed out of the coal mines that were established in the area. In addition, the region also became a producer of cotton and fruits such as citrus and grapes as well as grain.
Due to the various types of gemstones extracted in the area west of Emerald, it has come to be known as The Gemfields. Smaller townships in the area are also given gem-related names including Sapphire and Rubyvale. Emerald has one of the largest sapphire fields in the southern hemisphere.
Visiting Emerald
From Rockhampton, take the A4 (Capricorn Highway) due west till you reach Emerald.
Places of Interest in Emerald
- Emerald Botanic Gardens
Gardens on the banks of the Nogoa River with a variety of local trees. - Emerald Historic Railway Station
Railway station built in 1900 for train services from Rockhampton. - Fairbairn Dam
Dam on Lake Maraboon, a popular site for fishing, swimming and waterskiing. - Gudda Gumoo
A waterfall cascading downthe Blackdown Tableland, a site that has been home to the Ghungalu people for thousands of years.
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