Australia Eguide - Travel Guides

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Queensland
Queensland is the second largest state in Australia, covering an area of 1,730,650 square
kilometres and with a coastline stretching for 7,400 kilometres. It is seven times the size
of the United Kingdom, or five times the size of Japan, or twice the size of Texas.
Queensland can claim to be both the wettest and the hottest state in Australia. Mt.
Bellenden Ker, near Tully, once recorded 1.14 metres of rain in a single day, while
Cloncurry claims Australia's record temperature of 53.1C (127.6F) on 16th January 1889.
The first European exploration of Moreton Bay, where Brisbane lies, was carried out in
1797 by Matthew Flinders, who landed where today Redcliffe is situated. In 1799,
Flinders, in the Norfolk, charted the east coast of Queensland. In 1823, John Oxley in the
Mermaid named the Brisbane River after the Governor of New South Wales at the time
and travelled 100 kilometres up the river. A convict settlement was established at
Redcliffe in 1824 and moved to Brisbane in the following year. At the time, this territory
was still part of New South Wales. The first free settlers arrived in 1837 and by 1840 all
convicts had been withdrawn from Brisbane. By 1851, the residents of Queensland had
started to think of independence from New South Wales. Queen Victoria was petitioned
and agreed, understandably preferring the name Queensland to the alternative suggestion
of Cooksland. Queensland was proclaimed on 6th June 1859.
One of the great wonders of the world is the Great Barrier Reef stretching up the coast of
Queensland, and it is this which makes Queensland the most popular state for visitors to
Australia. The Great Barrier Reef extends for over 2,000 kilometres and actually consists
of some 2,500 individual reefs and 700 small islands, covering a total area of 345,000
square kilometres.
Queensland Railways provides the state-wide transport system, almost entirely by rail,
but with a few bus connexions. More than any other state, Queensland has kept its branch
railways and continued to operate passenger services on them. However, in recent years
this state too has bowed to economic pressures and the branch lines have been
discontinuing passenger service one by one, so that what is left now is a route all the way
up the coast from Brisbane to Cairns, plus three lines leading inland - from Brisbane to
Charleville with bus connexions to Cunnamulla and Quilpie, from Rockhampton to
Longreach with a bus connexion to Winton, and from Townsville to Mt. Isa. These are
supplemented by three tourist train routes in the north of the state and a good electric
suburban service around Brisbane. The Tilt Train operated by Queensland Railways
between Brisbane and Rockhampton is the fastest service in Australia.
Long-distance bus services are operated by Greyhound. Some other companies operate
more local routes. The long-distance bus companies offer passes from Sydney,
Melbourne or Adelaide up to Cairns with unlimited stops.
A good air system operates in Queensland, the main carriers being Qantas, Virgin Blue
Tiger and Jetstar.
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