Queensland

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

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 known as York Peninsula. of 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 are the Brisbane, the Burnett ground pigeon inhabiting , and the Burdekin about 5,400 feet. The principal rivers , the Pioneer, the Fitzroy flowing into the the Pacific, and the Flinders Gulf of Carpenand Mitchell into the climate is mean at Bristaria. In the N. part the in the interior is scanty and variable; the inches. The indigenous animals and plants of Australia. Crocodiles inhabit some of the Productions. There are many kinds valuable timber trees, and a rare thing of in Australia, a few good indigenous Sheep farming is the chief infruits. including sugardustry, but agriculture ( mining are growing), cattle rearing, and soil and climate are also important. The production of all the well suited for the well as maize, toordinary cereals, as , etc. The bacco, coffee, sugar, cotton , maize, English chief products are sugar root, and and sweet potatoes, arrow Sugar growing is semi-tropical fruits. important industry becoming a very . copper are the prin- Gold, tin, lead, and cipal minerals. In the N. pearl fishing is actively caron. manufacturers are unimried The principal manufactories, portant. The as such or works that may be classed , steam sawmills, soap are sugar mills, implement works, works, agricultural staple articles of and distilleries. The are wool export to the United Kingdom , . tallow, and preserved meats Education and Religion.-Education is free and secular in the public schools, conand is under a special department education. A trolled by the minister for Brisbane university was established at in 1911. History. The first settlement of place in 1825, when the Queensland took used as a place of transterritory was , who continued to portation for convicts In 1842 the counbe sent there till 1839. try was opened to free settlers. It was Wales originally a part of New South , separate colony and was organized as a in 1859. The gov government of the colony , who is the is vested in a governor representative, and a Parliacrown's legislative counment of two houses, the assembly. The cil and the legislative capital of the colony is Brisbane; pop. 180,000. In January, 1896, a disabout astrous flood caused great loss of life and and northern property in Brisbane . Queensland