Rockhampton, QLD - Accommodation, Attractions, Entertainment

Rockhampton, QLD

Large city on the Fitzroy River and near the Tropic of Capricorn. More than 50 buildings have been classified by the National Trust. The Capricana Festival is held in September.

Rockhampton is the unofficial capital of Central Queensland. It is located 650 klm north of Brisbane, 8 m above sea level and just a few kilometres north of the Tropic of Capricorn.

The central business district,particularly Quay Street (which is part of the National Estate) and East Street, is one of Australia's most elegant streetscapes. The city's wealth is largely based on the cattle industry which surrounds it. Reminders exist at both the northern and southern ends of town where the visitor is greeted by life size statues of bulls in the median strip. There is also a huge 'big bull' on top of a shopping complex at the southern end of town.

The concentration of beautiful old buildings, the tree lined streets, the malls, the lazy Fitzroy river beside Quay Street, all make this area of Rockhampton one of the delights of the city.

Rockhampton's Heritage includes 26 buildings of historical significance in three blocks of Quay Street and East Street.

Rockhampton has been sustained by the mining activities in the Bowen Basin where towns like Blackwater, Dysart and Moura produce vast quantities of coal which is transported to the coast by rail and shipped overseas.

Rockhampton with its population of over 60 000 has become the centre for the mining towns which lie beyond the Great Dividing Range. Buildings in the Central Business District The walk through the town centre includes a total of 35 buildings of which the most significant are:

The Post Office

Located on the corner of East Street Mall and Denham Street this huge two storey Classical Revival building dominates the Rockhampton CBD streetscape. It was designed by the architect G Connolly and constructed of Stanwell sandstone by Collins and McLean in 1895. The most striking features of the building are the superb colonnades and the clock tower and belfry. The interior has been modernised but the facade and clock tower stand as a reminder of a time when Rockhampton could make legitimate claims to be the capital of central Queensland.

Customs House

Located in Quay Street it is a fine example of the Classic Revival period architecture which was all the rage in Rockhampton around the turn of the century. Built between 1898-1901 of Stanwell sandstone the building has a huge copper dome and an elaborate semi-circular portico with a Corinthian colonnade. The building was designed by the Queensland Government architect, A B Brady, and is a powerful reminder of the importance that Rockhampton enjoyed as the major central coast port around that time.

Criterion Hotel

This prime site at the end of Quay Street near the Fitzroy Bridge was originally the site of Rockhampton's first hotel, the Bush Inn which was built in 1857 and owned by Robert Parker. Such was the wealth from the goldfields which poured into Rockhampton in the 1880s that Parker's daughter, a Mrs Curtis, commissioned the architect J Flint to build this extraordinary and ostentatious three storey Neo Classic Revival building in 1889. It was completed in October 1890. It is worth noting that the colonnaded verandahs have hoods to protect the rooms from the harsh Queensland sun.

Supreme Court

Located at the western entrance to the East Street Mall, the Supreme Court is a typical dour, geometrically correct, Classic Revival building designed by G Connolly, the Government Architect. Set back from the street the combination of the fine wrought iron gates, the palm trees in the forecourt, the solid ionic columns, and the pale sandstone make it a particularly impressive public building. It has been in continuous use for over 100 years having been built in 1887.

Union Trustee Chambers

Located at 170 Quay Street is one of the earliest of the elegant buildings beside the river. Designed by the Rockhampton architect, J W Wilson, as a residence and surgery for Dr Callaghan, it is an important example of the 'Classic Colonial' style with an interesting combination of Classical columns and cast iron balustrading. It is regarded by the National Trust as a building of exceptional historical significance.

Rees R & Sydney Jones - Solicitors

Located on the corner of Quay Street and Denham Street was built in 1880 to a Neo Classic Revival design by the architect, F D Stanley. Originally constructed for the Queensland National Bank its cast iron balustrades and Corinthian columns make it a very distinctive and prominent corner building.

Heritage Tavern

The magnificent Heritage Tavern is located on the corner of Quay Street and William Street. Built in 1898 as Mrs L Johnson's Commercial Hotel the architect J W Wilson adopted a colonial style which is best exemplified by the superb iron columns and lacework on the three storey narrow verandahs.

Other Buildings

At the easterly end of Quay Street there are the Fitzroy Shire Council Chambers (1896) a fine Neo Classic Revival building with elliptical arches and elaborate parapet detailing, the solid Victorian Walter Reid Apartments on the corner of Derby Street and Quay Street, a number of buildings between Derby and William Streets which includes Avonleigh Chambers, and the ABC Studios at 236 Quay Street (originally owned by Mt Morgan Gold Mining).

The area beyond the City Centre If the centre of Rockhampton is full of architectural delights, the suburban area and the outlying regions are equally interesting. Of these the most interesting include: Ward Street Buildings

a) Mater Hospital - a wonderfully ostentatious late Victorian building built in 1890 for John Ferguson (a local member of the Legislative Council) by the architect James Flint. It boasts an elaborate tower, an impressive grand staircase and decorative rendering.

b) Yungaba Centre - another piece of Victorian overstatement this house was also designed by James Flint. This time the owner was John Ferguson's daughter. Built in 1897 its grand colonial design and elaborate lacework make it one of the most interesting and dramatic residences in Rockhampton. Nearby is the home of the Boland family now known as

(c) Mr and Mrs Jeha's Residence which is a classic Queensland colonial house elevated from the ground to let the cool summer breezes reduce the heat and with elaborate timber work which is a reminder of the superb timber craftsmanship which existed in central Queensland around 1898 when the house was built.

Archer Park Railway Station

The old timber railway station (1899) with a long front verandah with cast iron columns, some attractive lace ironwork and an elaborate entry porch. It looks a little rundown at the moment but there are plans to turn it into a railway museum.

St Paul's Cathedral

Located on the corner of Alma and William Streets (on the edge of the city's CBD) is another one of the city's buildings constructed out of Stanwell sandstone. Built between 1879-83 in classic Gothic style it was constructed in response to criticisms levelled against the previous, rather modest, church which the locals felt was inferior to cathedrals in other Queensland towns.

Building actually started as early as 1874 but came to an abrupt halt due to lack of funds. It was started again in 1879 when Bishop Stanton laid the foundation stone and was finally consecrated in 1883.

St Joseph's Catholic Cathedral

Located on the corner of William and West Streets, it was built of Stanwell stone in Victorian Gothic style in 1889-90. A beautiful twin spired building its interior is characterised by a dramatic, large scale timber vaulted roof and some particularly lovely joinery work.

Botanic Gardens and Japanese Gardens

To the south of the city are the city's excellent Botanical Gardens which were first developed in 1869 and boast a wide range of tropical and warm climate plants. In 1982 a separate Japanese Gardens were established. There is also a zoo with birds, emus, kangaroos and koalas. Contact: (07) 4931 1254.

St Aubins Village

On Canoona Road, south of Rockhampton and near the airport, is the interesting and unusual St Aubins Village, a collection of five cottages with a grand Spanish Colonial residence designed and built in the 1870s by a German bricklayer named Roderkirchen, as the complex's centrepiece. It has the distinction of being the first house in Rockhampton to be listed by the National Trust. The house is now run as part of an historical village which is open from 9.00-6.00 daily. Contact: (07) 4927 5676.

Rockhampton Historical Society Museum

Rockhampton Historical Society Museum is located on the north side of the Fitzroy river near the Fitzroy Bridge. This delightful colonial building was completed in 1885 for the North Rockhampton Borough Council. The Museum contains an interesting collection of memorabilia from the local area and is open from 10.00 am - 2.00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 2.00pm - 5.00pm on Sunday.

Lakes Creek Hotel, Lakes Creek Cottages and St Christophers Chapel

Beyond the Rockhampton Museum on the Lakes Creek Road are the Lakes Creek Hotel, a fine vernacular timber hotel dating from the turn of the century which is a typical central Queensland pub, the Lakes Creek Cottages, an interesting collection of cottages for local meatworkers which were built in the 1880s, and, most interestingly, St Christophers Chapel, an unusual open air non-denominational church which was built in 1943 by American servicemen who were stationed in the area.

Built from bush timber with a concrete floor and corrugated iron roof it is an interesting example of a modern church designed out of simple, inexpensive materials.

Dreamtime Cultural Centre

One of the most interesting of all the attractions at Rockhampton is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dreamtime Centre. The centre is set in beautiful gardens and aims to introduce visitors to the culture of Central Queensland Aborigines and the peoples of the Torres Strait Islands. This is done through conducted tours which explain the way the Aborigines used the plants of the area, show how they built their dwellings, tell the stories of the Darumbal peoples, and display some of the artefacts from the surrounding area.

The building at the centre of the park was constructed to recreate a cave in the Carnarvon National Park which, according to Aboriginal legend, is haunted by an old Aborigine who only appears to women. He apparently lost his wife to a younger man and spends eternity seeking to find her once again. The centre is open from 10.00am - 5.30pm except Sundays. Contact: (07) 4936 1055

Glenmore Homestead

Glenmore Homestead is one of the many interesting old buildings in the rural hinterland around Rockhampton. Classified by the National Trust the Homestead complex consists of the original log cabin (1858) which is a fine example of the primitive style of construction adopted by the early settlers. It boasts log walls, slab flooring and a shingle roof.

There is also a slab house which was once a Bush Inn and a stone and adobe house built by a Mexican stone mason in 1862. The turnoff to Glenmore Homestead is only 200 metres beyond the Dreamtime Centre on the Bruce Highway. It has won a number of awards because the people who own it have created a tourist complex which is much more than a collection of old buildings and memorabilia. They serve damper, host wedding receptions, and have regular bush dances. The old homestead has become an unusual and interesting backdrop for these more contemporary experiences. Contact: (07) 4936 1033

Olsens Capricorn Caves

Olsens Capricorn Caves, located 23 km north of Rockhampton on the Bruce Highway, have the distinction of being the oldest tourist attraction in Queensland. The sixteen caves were first discovered by John Olsen, a Norwegian migrant, in 1882. Two years later he opened them to the public. Formed from an ancient coral reef some 380 million years ago, the caves are privately owned and therefore are used for such unlikely activities as weddings and parties. Contact: (07) 4934 2883.

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