Peak Downs, Queensland
Encyclopedia
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.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, 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...
, 320km west of both 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....
and Mackay
Mackay, Queensland
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
. 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
Bowen Basin
The Bowen Basin contains the largest coal reserves in Australia. This major coal producing region contains one of the world's largest deposits of bituminous coal. The Basin contains much of the known Permian coal resources in Queensland including virtually all of the known mineable prime coking coal...
, 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
Tieri, Queensland
Tieri is a town in Central Queensland, Australia, located in the Central Highlands. Established in 1983, the town like nearby Middlemount and Dysart, is a service centre for local coal mines. At the 2006 census, Tieri had a population of 1,679....
, 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
Rio Tinto Coal Australia
thumb|[[ThyssenKrupp|Krupp]] twin-boom portal [[reclaimer]] at RTCA Kestrel Mine|500pxRio Tinto Coal Australia is an Australian coal mining organisation, and is part of the worldwide Rio Tinto Group. In Queensland, RTCA operates the Blair Athol, Hail Creek, Kestrel and Clermont mines...
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
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
, sunflower
Sunflower
Sunflower is an annual plant native to the Americas. It possesses a large inflorescence . The sunflower got its name from its huge, fiery blooms, whose shape and image is often used to depict the sun. The sunflower has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves and circular heads...
and more recently chickpeas.
External links
- Queensland Department of Local Government & Planning - Local Government Directory