00 am to 12.30 pm and 1.00 pm to 4.30 pm

A coal mine near Blackwater.

The community

Mostly it is a young community; the median age is 34 years. Children aged 0-14 years make up nearly 25% of the population (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census).

Jobs in the mining sector account for most of the total workforce, followed by agriculture and horticulture, the retail trade, and education and training.

Regional unemployment sits at 4%, in line with the Queensland average (REMPLAN Economy).

More than a third of the community reside in rental accommodation, 28.9% have a house with a mortgage and 22.2% own their house outright.

Adjoining councils

The local government areas of Barcaldine Regional Council, Isaac Regional Council, Maranoa Regional Council, Banana Shire Council, Rockhampton Regional Council and the Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council surround the region.

Regional history

The Central Highlands was originally home to many Indigenous people who remain the Traditional Custodians of these lands.

Early European settlement in the region dates from the 1850s. The first pioneers brought sheep from down south to the region. Growth continued into the late 1800s with the inland expansion of the railway line west from Rockhampton and the establishment of small ‘railway’ towns.

Significant growth occurred in the 1950s to 1980s with the introduction of beef cattle grazing, the building of Fairbairn Dam for agricultural irrigation, and coal mining.

Today, the region is defined by the diverse prospering economies that support its unique vibrant communities.