Emerald, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Emerald is a town located in the Central Highlands
district of Central Queensland
, Australia
. At the 2006 census
, Emerald had a population of 10,999. The town is the business centre for the Central Highlands Regional Council
.
Emerald lies on the Nogoa River
, a tributary of the Fitzroy River
. The town lies almost 300 kilometres from the coast and approximately 270 kilometres west of the city of Rockhampton
on the junction of the Capricorn
and Gregory
highways. The Tropic of Capricorn
intersects the Gregory Highway
just north of Emerald.
. Emerald was established in 1879 as a base for the Central Line from Rockhampton
.
Fairbairn Dam overflowed for the first time in 17 years on the 19 January 2008. Major flooding in Emerald occurred a few days after as the Nogoa River broke its banks. The floods, resulted in 1,000 houses being affected and more than 2,500 people being evacuated. The 2008 floods did not reach the heights of flooding in previous years.
Some of the recorded floods have occurred in the region in 1863, 1864, 1868, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1875, 1876, 1878, 1882, 1887, 1890, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1906, 1912, 1918, 1920s, 1950 (where 1103.77 mm rain was recorded in Queensand), 1956 was the wettest year on record with 1032.29 mm rainfall. The 1970s also had similar rainfall to the 1860s and 1870s.
Previous to the 1990s, flood damage to residential properties was almost non existent. The biggest impact from flooding of the Nogoa River in Emerald itself was that one side of Emerald was cut off from the other and caravans at the Carinya Caravan Park would be towed to higher ground each time the Nogoa River rose, to prevent the caravans from being completely submerged. This caravan park is now the site of the Centro Property where Coles Supermarket and other businesses trade from. The swamp area is now part of Kidd Street, a housing development, in which an old river course ran into. The creek that ran along the back of the hospital, past the rear of Woolworths and past the Information Centre has been filled in turned into a channel with a section cemented on one side near the information centre, reducing the channel in size by approx two thirds. This area has been allowed to be developed. This creek was renamed Creek Street for a short section.
is grown in the area, and is processed at the Yamala Cotton Gin, while other agricultural activities include grape
, citrus and grain
growing.
The citrus industry was severely affected by a citrus canker
outbreak that started in 2004 and was declared over in early 2009. More than half a million citrus trees located around Emerald had to be destroyed.
, with small towns such as Sapphire
and Rubyvale
indicating the type of gems found there. The sapphire
fields located here are the largest in the southern hemisphere.
The Fairbairn Dam
, a short drive to the south of the town, was opened in 1972, and holds back the waters of Lake Maraboon. The lake
covers an area of up to 150 km², making it one of the largest artificial lakes in the country. When full, it holds more water than Sydney Harbour
. This extensive water supply has allowed the cotton industry to flourish in the area, and the lake is a boon for local water sports.
, St Patrick's and the Christian college are private schools. The only public high school in Emerald is Emerald State High School. The small community of Gindie exists approximately 23 km south of Emerald on the Gregory Highway. It is also home to a primary school established in 1897, Gindie State School.
Central Queensland University
has a campus in Emerald.
Central Highlands Regional Council
Central Highlands Regional Council is a Local Government Area in Queensland, Australia. The Local Government Area was created in March 2008 as a result of the report of the Local Government Reform Commission released in July 2007...
district of Central Queensland
Central Queensland
Central Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional centre is Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast and the area extends west to the Central Highlands at Emerald, north to the Mackay Regional...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Emerald had a population of 10,999. The town is the business centre for the Central Highlands Regional Council
Central Highlands Regional Council
Central Highlands Regional Council is a Local Government Area in Queensland, Australia. The Local Government Area was created in March 2008 as a result of the report of the Local Government Reform Commission released in July 2007...
.
Emerald lies on the Nogoa River
Nogoa River
The Nogoa River rises on the Carnarvon Range in the Carnarvon National Park in Central Queensland and flows in a north easterly direction. The river ends where it meets the Comet River north of Comet. From this point the river is called the Mackenzie River....
, a tributary of the Fitzroy River
Fitzroy River (Queensland)
The Fitzroy River lies in Queensland, Australia. Its catchment covers an area of 142,665 square kilometres, making it the largest river catchment flowing to the eastern coast of Australia. The river is formed by the joining of the Mackenzie and Dawson rivers at Duaringa. The catchment stretches...
. The town lies almost 300 kilometres from the coast and approximately 270 kilometres west of the city of Rockhampton
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
on the junction of the Capricorn
Capricorn Highway
The Capricorn Highway is located in Central Queensland, Australia, and links the city of Rockhampton with western Queensland. The highway is approximately 560 kilometres long, and joins the Landsborough Highway at Barcaldine...
and Gregory
Gregory Highway
The Gregory Highway is a state highway in Queensland that serves the major coal-mining centres of Central Queensland. The highway was named after Augustus Gregory, an early explorer....
highways. The Tropic of Capricorn
Tropic of Capricorn
The Tropic of Capricorn, or Southern tropic, marks the most southerly latitude on the Earth at which the Sun can be directly overhead. This event occurs at the December solstice, when the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun to its maximum extent.Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five...
intersects the Gregory Highway
Gregory Highway
The Gregory Highway is a state highway in Queensland that serves the major coal-mining centres of Central Queensland. The highway was named after Augustus Gregory, an early explorer....
just north of Emerald.
History
The area was first explored by the European Ludwig LeichhardtLudwig Leichhardt
Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt, known as Ludwig Leichhardt, was a Prussian explorer and naturalist, most famous for his exploration of northern and central Australia.-Early life:...
. Emerald was established in 1879 as a base for the Central Line from Rockhampton
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
.
Fairbairn Dam overflowed for the first time in 17 years on the 19 January 2008. Major flooding in Emerald occurred a few days after as the Nogoa River broke its banks. The floods, resulted in 1,000 houses being affected and more than 2,500 people being evacuated. The 2008 floods did not reach the heights of flooding in previous years.
Some of the recorded floods have occurred in the region in 1863, 1864, 1868, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1875, 1876, 1878, 1882, 1887, 1890, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1906, 1912, 1918, 1920s, 1950 (where 1103.77 mm rain was recorded in Queensand), 1956 was the wettest year on record with 1032.29 mm rainfall. The 1970s also had similar rainfall to the 1860s and 1870s.
Previous to the 1990s, flood damage to residential properties was almost non existent. The biggest impact from flooding of the Nogoa River in Emerald itself was that one side of Emerald was cut off from the other and caravans at the Carinya Caravan Park would be towed to higher ground each time the Nogoa River rose, to prevent the caravans from being completely submerged. This caravan park is now the site of the Centro Property where Coles Supermarket and other businesses trade from. The swamp area is now part of Kidd Street, a housing development, in which an old river course ran into. The creek that ran along the back of the hospital, past the rear of Woolworths and past the Information Centre has been filled in turned into a channel with a section cemented on one side near the information centre, reducing the channel in size by approx two thirds. This area has been allowed to be developed. This creek was renamed Creek Street for a short section.
Industry
Emerald is a service town for a large number of industries in the area. Extensive coal mining operations are carried out in the district. CottonCotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
is grown in the area, and is processed at the Yamala Cotton Gin, while other agricultural activities include grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
, citrus and grain
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
growing.
The citrus industry was severely affected by a citrus canker
Citrus canker
Citrus canker is a disease affecting citrus species that is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis. Infection causes lesions on the leaves, stems, and fruit of citrus trees, including lime, oranges, and grapefruit...
outbreak that started in 2004 and was declared over in early 2009. More than half a million citrus trees located around Emerald had to be destroyed.
Attractions
To the west of the town is an area known as The GemfieldsThe Gemfields
The Gemfields is a district in Central Queensland in Australia, near the town of Emerald. As the name suggests, the main industry in the Gemfields is sapphire mining, supported by tourism....
, with small towns such as Sapphire
Sapphire, Queensland
Sapphire is a town in Queensland, Australia. Situated in a region called the Gemfields, sapphires are mined extensively in the area. At the 2006 census, Sapphire had a population of 550.-External links:* ***...
and Rubyvale
Rubyvale, Queensland
Rubyvale is a town in the Australian state of Queensland, approximately west of Emerald. Situated in a region called the Gemfields, sapphires are mined extensively in the area...
indicating the type of gems found there. The sapphire
Sapphire
Sapphire is a gemstone variety of the mineral corundum, an aluminium oxide , when it is a color other than red or dark pink; in which case the gem would instead be called a ruby, considered to be a different gemstone. Trace amounts of other elements such as iron, titanium, or chromium can give...
fields located here are the largest in the southern hemisphere.
The Fairbairn Dam
Fairbairn Dam
Fairbairn Dam is located 25 kilometres southwest of Emerald, in Central Queensland, almost on top of the Tropic of Capricorn line. Fairbairn Dam was constructed in 1972 across the Nogoa River "Gap" creating Lake Maraboon and is Queensland's second largest lake. Maraboon is the Aboriginal for "where...
, a short drive to the south of the town, was opened in 1972, and holds back the waters of Lake Maraboon. The lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
covers an area of up to 150 km², making it one of the largest artificial lakes in the country. When full, it holds more water than Sydney Harbour
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
. This extensive water supply has allowed the cotton industry to flourish in the area, and the lake is a boon for local water sports.
Education
Emerald has seven schools: five primary schools and three secondary schools. There are three public primary schools, Denison State School, Emerald North State School and Emerald State School. Marist College EmeraldMarist College Emerald
Marist College Emerald is a Catholic, co-educational day school located in Emerald, a rural town located in the Central Highlands, about 3 hours west of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia....
, St Patrick's and the Christian college are private schools. The only public high school in Emerald is Emerald State High School. The small community of Gindie exists approximately 23 km south of Emerald on the Gregory Highway. It is also home to a primary school established in 1897, Gindie State School.
Central Queensland University
Central Queensland University
CQUniversity is an Australian public university based in Queensland. Its main campus is in North Rockhampton Queensland. However, it also has campuses in Bundaberg, Emerald, Gladstone and Mackay, as well as operations throughout Asia-Pacific. For instance, Melior Business School is one of its...
has a campus in Emerald.