Queensland
since 1901 an Australian state, comprising the whole N. E. portion of Australia N. of New South Wales and E. of South Australia and its Northern Territory, being elsewhere bounded by the Gulf of Carpentaria, Torres Strait, and the Pacific. A considerable portion is thus within the tropics, the extreme N. part forming a sort of peninsula, known as York Peninsula.
It has an area of 670,500 square miles; pop. about 715,000.
Topography. Toward the W. a large portion of the surface is dry and barren, but toward the E., and for a long stretch along the coast, boundless plains or downs, admirably adapted for sheep walks. The highest mountains are near the coast, the greatest elevation being QUEEN'S METAL QUESNEL