Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Gladstone

Gladstone

Gladstone, situated in central Queensland is a thriving city adjacent to Port Curtis. Up until the 1950's, Gladstone was primarily a fishing village, although strong growth occurred when the town was chosen to facilitate an aluminium refinery & smelter (smelter at nearby Boyne Island) to cater for the bauxite mining that had begun at Weipa and Gove. With the addition of the state's largest power station, the coal loading facility and the state's largest concrete works, Gladstone has become Queensland's premier port and industrial city. Gladstone, despite being dominated with industry is incredibly tidy, well presented with Mt Larcom to the north providing a striking backdrop. Other highlights include the Round Hill lookout, the Toondoon Botanical Gardens (recommended) and the Gladstone Marina. Also in the area are Awoonga Dam (15km west - great picnic spot) and Boyne Island & Tannum Sands (20km south-west) which offer safe swimming beaches.

Population: 28,500
State: Queensland
Name Origin: Named after William Ewart Gladstone, a former Prime Minister of England.
Pronunciation: Glad-stn
Postcode: 4680
Local Government: Gladstone City Council
Location: 532km north-west of Brisbane, 106km south-east of Rockhampton
Main Roads: Dawson Highway , Port Curtis Way
Main Watercourses: Port Curtis (South Pacific Ocean), Calliope River
Radio Stations (Music): Hot FM (93.5), Sea FM (95.1), Triple J (104.7)

Photos from Gladstone (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

Looking south down Goondoon Street, Gladstone (2004).

Looking south along Goondoon Street, this time from Bramston Street, Gladstone (2004).

Looking north along Goondoon Street from Bramston Street, Gladstone (2004).

Looking north along Goondoon Street from Roseberry Street. Port Curtis & Curtis Island are in the background, Gladstone (2004).

Glenlyon Road, heading south approaching Derby/Breslin St intersection, Gladstone (2004).

Looking north along Glenlyon Road approaching the Hanson Rd/Dawson Hwy intersection, Gladstone (2004).

Looking north-east along the Dawson Hwy approaching Aerodrome Road, Gladstone (2004).

Looking east towards QAL from Round Hill, Gladstone (2004).

View south from Round Hill lookout Gladstone suburbia (2004).

View north over Gladstone City Centre, Curtis Island and Port Curtis from Round Hill (2004).

View north-west over Gladstone, the power station and Mt Larcom in the distance from Auckland Point lookout (1999).

Looking south over Gladstone and the Auckland Inlet from Auckland Point lookout (1999).

	Looking south down Goondoon Street, Gladstone (2004).
	Looking south along Goondoon Street, this time from Bramston Street, Gladstone (2004).
	Looking north along Goondoon Street from Bramston Street, Gladstone (2004).
	Looking north along Goondoon Street from Roseberry Street. Port Curtis & Curtis Island are in the background, Gladstone (2004).
	Glenlyon Road, heading south approaching Derby/Breslin St intersection, Gladstone (2004).
	Looking north along Glenlyon Road approaching the Hanson Rd/Dawson Hwy intersection, Gladstone (2004).
	Looking north-east along the Dawson Hwy approaching Aerodrome Road, Gladstone (2004).
	Looking east towards QAL from Round Hill, Gladstone (2004).
	View south from Round Hill lookout Gladstone suburbia (2004).
	View north over Gladstone City Centre, Curtis Island and Port Curtis from Round Hill (2004).
	View north-west over Gladstone, the power station and Mt Larcom in the distance from Auckland Point lookout (1999).
	Looking south over Gladstone and the Auckland Inlet from Auckland Point lookout (1999).