Rockhampton - City on the Capricorn

By Gabrielle & William Beams

The bustling city of Rockhampton, settled in 1855 and situated on the Fitzroy River, is the gateway to the Capricorn Coast. Affectionately called “Rocky”, this metropolis has become known as the “beef capital of Australia”, as there are over 2 million cattle within a 250 kilometre radius of the city. There are many tourist attractions in and around the area and the Rockhampton Visitor Information Centre on Quay Street is a great source for these activities.

Beautiful historic buildings abound throughout Rockhampton, depicting the gold rush era of the 1850’s, when this then smaller city was an inland port. The Heritage Tavern in William Street, the Walter Reid Buildings in Derby Street and Customs House on Quay Street are wonderful examples of this vibrant time in “Rocky’s” past. St Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral, on the corner of William and West Streets, has stood for over a century in this prominent position. Its magnificent sandstone structure reflects the time of the establishment of the Diocese of Rockhampton in 1882. The stained glass windows, designed and hand crafted in England and depicting scenes from the New Testament, were removed during World War 2 and buried underground, for fear that they may be destroyed. Now these priceless windows, restored to their former location, are a solemn testimony to a higher deity.

Imposing Mount Archer rises 604 metres east of the city. A steep 5 kilometre drive to the top affords you panoramic views of Rockhampton and the surrounding countryside. BBQ facilities are available and several walking tracks, some accessible for wheel chairs, will take you to the many lookouts on the mountain.

The spectacular Capricorn Caves are located in the Berserker Range 24 Kilometres north of the city. These limestone caverns were discovered by John Olsen in 1882 and today guided tours of this attraction are available all year round. The impressive Cathedral Cave has a ceiling height of 30 metres and the underground seepage has carved the rock into formations which are likened to a pulpit, choir stalls and a christening font. Weddings are often held in this cave because of its spiritual ambience. This labyrinth of sixty six caves winds its tortuous way through the hills and often you have to squeeze into narrow passages to move from one cave to another. Truly Mother Nature should be congratulated on this wonderful spectacle. The Capricorn Cave complex boasts picnic facilities, a BBQ and Kiosk and is a worthy tourist attraction.

The seaside resort of Yeppoon, approximately 45 kilometres north east of Rockhampton, has become popular as a holiday destination for city folk and for those departing to great Keppel Island from the Rosslyn Bay Boat Harbour. Yeppoon’s undulating landscape is home to superb Real Estate with glorious panoramic views to the Keppel Island group. Its unspoiled beaches and trendy shopping make this town a tourist mecca.

18 kilometres south of Yeppoon is the small settlement of Emu Park. The “Singing Ship” memorial, on Churchill Point, is a 12 metre high structure of pipes in the shape of a giant sail which “sings” when strong breezes pass through it. This sound is said to be reminiscent of that of a sailing ship at sea. This memorial is dedicated to Captain James Cook and his voyage down the eastern Australian coast in the Endeavour in 1770.

Great Keppel Island lies 13 kilometres off the mainland and is the largest in the Keppel group. Named by Captain James Cook on May 26, 1770 the islands 17 pristine beaches surround the densely forested interior which allows adventurous tourists to walk from beach to beach in search of the good snorkeling and swimming areas. Glass bottomed boat tours depart from the island and you can immerse yourself in the magnificence of the Great Barrier Reef. Varied accommodation is available on the island, from camping to 4 star and several food outlets will satiate the hungriest of visitors. Camel rides are a novelty on Fisherman’s Beach and these docile creatures carry tourists along its white sandy shores.

The historic township of Mount Morgan is located 38 kilometres south west of Rockhampton via the “Razorback”. This part of the Bruce Highway is inaccessible for caravans as its tortuous upward ascent is narrow and winding. Gold was discovered here in 1880 and the area yielded 225,000 kilograms of gold, 50,000 kilograms of silver and 360,000 kilograms of copper over 99 years. Now the vast open cut mine more than 300 metres deep, is a reminder of those halcyon days of riches. The township has many historical buildings and monuments including the Mafeking Bell from 1900, the Railway Station 1898, Leichardt Hotel 1891 and the Anglican Church 1889. The famous “Running the Cutter” memorial stands on the main highway. This commemorates the time when young boys would run to the hotel to fill the miners “Billy cans” with beer at the end of their shift.

Rockhampton, on the Tropic of Capricorn, is an eclectic mix of the modern day Queensland “lay back” life and the colonial history that shaped our nation. It is truly a tourist treasure.