Queensland

Queensland, often called QLD, is a big state in the northeast part of Australia. It is the second-largest and third-most populated state in the country. Queensland shares borders with the Northern Territory, South Australia, and New South Wales on land. The Coral Sea and the Pacific Ocean are to its east. To the north, the Torres Strait separates it from Papua New Guinea, and the Gulf of Carpentaria lies to the northwest.

With an area of over 1.7 million square kilometers, Queensland is one of the largest parts of any country in the world. Its landscape is very different in many places, featuring tropical rainforests, rivers, coral reefs, mountain ranges, white sandy beaches, deserts, and savanna. The state’s population is over 5.5 million, with most living in South East Queensland, especially in the capital city, Brisbane, which is Australia’s third-largest city.

Queensland has a rich history. First, Aboriginal Australians lived there. Later, Europeans like Willem Janszoon and James Cook explored the area. It became its own colony in 1859 and was one of the six colonies that formed Australia in 1901. Today, Queensland’s economy is strong in areas such as mining, farming, and tourism. Many people visit because of its famous Great Barrier Reef and sunny beaches. The state continues to attract people from across Australia and around the world.

History

Main article: History of Queensland

Pre-European contact

Main article: History of Indigenous Australians

Queensland was home to many Aboriginal groups before Europeans arrived. These groups lived there for thousands of years and had their own cultures and languages. During the last ice age, the land changed, but the people adapted and found new ways to live.

The Torres Strait Islands were home to the Torres Strait Islander peoples, who have their own special culture and history.

European colonisation

In 1606, a Dutch explorer named Willem Janszoon was the first European to land in Australia near what is now Weipa. Later, British explorer James Cook claimed the east coast for Britain in 1770.

In the 1820s, British settlers began building communities, which changed life for Aboriginal peoples. Over time, Queensland grew from a small group of settlers into a busy region.

Independent governance

In 1859, Queensland became its own colony, separate from New South Wales, with Brisbane as its capital. Finding gold helped the economy grow fast. In 1901, Queensland became part of Australia.

20th century

Queensland changed a lot in the 1900s. Women were allowed to vote in state elections in 1905, and the University of Queensland opened in 1909. During World War I and World War II, many people from Queensland served and the state helped in both wars.

After World War II, many people from Europe moved to Queensland. The state became more popular because of its warm climate. In 1981, the Great Barrier Reef was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

21st century

In recent years, Queensland’s population has grown a lot. Major floods caused damage in 2011, and the state was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Queensland

Queensland is a big state in northeastern Australia. It covers an area of 1,729,742 square kilometres and is the second-largest state in the country. The state's eastern edge borders the Coral Sea, and it is surrounded by the Torres Strait to the north, Northern Territory and South Australia to the west, and New South Wales to the south.

Queensland has many different landscapes. There are coastal areas with the famous Great Barrier Reef and inland regions with dry, arid climates. Major regions include South East Queensland, home to the capital city Brisbane and popular tourist spots like the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. There are also areas known for farming, mining, and natural beauty like the Wet Tropics and Lamington National Park.

Demographics

See also: Demographics of Australia and Demographics of Brisbane

In 2021, Queensland had about 5.3 million people. Half of them live in Brisbane, and most live in South East Queensland. Queensland is the second least crowded state in Australia after Tasmania. Since the 1980s, Queensland has grown fast because many people move there from other places and other countries.

Ten of Australia's thirty largest cities are in Queensland. The biggest cities are Brisbane, the Gold Coast–Tweed Heads, and the Sunshine Coast.

Many people in Queensland have family from other countries. In the past, most came from England, Ireland, Scotland and Germany. After the second world war, many came from southern and eastern Europe, especially Italy. Today, most new people come from Asia, especially China and India.

At a count in 2016, the most common family backgrounds were English, Australian, Irish, Scottish, and German. Many people also have Chinese, Italian, Indian or Dutch background.

Most people in Queensland speak only English at home. Some people speak Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese or Spanish.

About half of the people in Queensland believe in Christianity, mostly as Protestants or Catholics. Many people say they believe in No religion. Some people believe in other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism or Islam.

Queensland has many universities, including the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University and James Cook University. Many students from other countries study in Queensland, especially in Brisbane. The state also has many primary and secondary schools, as well as a public library system managed by the State Library of Queensland.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Queensland

See also: Economy of Australia

Queensland's economy is very strong. It is the third-largest in Australia. The state's economy grew because of its mining, farming, and many visitors from other places. Important farms grow fruits like bananas and pineapples, as well as sugarcane and cotton. The state also mines valuable minerals such as coal and gold.

Tourism is a big part of Queensland's economy. The state's beautiful beaches, wildlife, and many places to visit bring millions of tourists each year. Popular spots include the Great Barrier Reef, Gold Coast with its amusement parks, and the Sunshine Coast with its beaches and zoos. Brisbane, the state's capital, is also a popular place to visit with many parks, museums, and other attractions.

Politics and government

Main article: Politics of Queensland

Queensland is one of the six founding states of Australia. It has been a federated state since 1901. Its government is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy and uses the Westminster system. Power is split into three parts: the Parliament of Queensland, the Queensland Government, and the judiciary. The Parliament makes laws. The Government puts them into action. The courts make sure they are fair.

Queensland’s Parliament has one house. It is called the Legislative Assembly. Members are elected to represent different areas. The leader of the Government is the Premier. The Governor chooses the Premier based on who has the support of the Assembly. The current Premier is David Crisafulli from the Liberal National Party. Local governments help manage services in different regions.

Main article: Local government in Queensland

Culture

The Queensland Cultural Centre in Brisbane is a place for art and culture. It is home to the Queensland Art Gallery and the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. You can also find groups like the Queensland Ballet, Opera Queensland, Queensland Theatre Company, and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Queensland has had many famous musicians, such as the Bee Gees and Savage Garden. Each year, the state has big events like the Royal Queensland Exhibition, called the Ekka, and the Brisbane Festival. The Brisbane Festival has a wonderful fireworks show named "Riverfire."

Sport

Main article: Sport in Queensland

Queensland loves sports! The state has many teams in Australia’s top leagues. The most popular sports are rugby league and cricket.

Queensland has teams like the Brisbane Broncos and Queensland Bulls that play in big competitions. The state will host the 2032 Summer Olympics, which will be a big event for sports fans everywhere.

Symbols and emblems

Main article: Symbols of Queensland

Queensland has special symbols that show its history and natural beauty. The state’s coat of arms was given in 1893 by Queen Victoria. It shows important jobs from the 1800s like farming and mining. Two birds, the brolga and the red deer, are part of the arms.

Many other symbols show Queensland’s unique plants, animals, and colors. The koala is the state’s animal emblem. The Cooktown orchid is its flower emblem. Maroon is its official color. The sapphire became the state gem in 1985.

Infrastructure

See also: Transportation in Australia, Transport in Brisbane, TransLink (South East Queensland), and Queensland Rail City network

Transport

Queensland has many roads, including important ones called National Highways and freeways. These are especially found in South East Queensland. The Department of Transport & Main Roads looks after the roads and public transport like buses, trains, taxis, and small airplanes.

Trains in Queensland are mainly run by Queensland Rail between big towns on the east side of the mountains. Big ports like the Port of Brisbane help move goods in and out of the state. Brisbane Airport is the main place for airplanes, but there are also airports in places like the Gold Coast, Cairns, and Townsville. South East Queensland has a special system for buses, trains, light rail, and ferries that all work together. This system has many stops and includes popular ferry services along the Brisbane River. A new train system called Cross River Rail is being built for the 2032 Olympic games.

Other utilities

Queensland Health runs the public hospitals across the state. There are big hospitals in Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns, and the Gold Coast, as well as many smaller hospitals in other areas. There are also private hospitals for people who choose to pay for their own care.