Rockhampton

About

As early as 1844 Europeans had earmarked the Fitzroy River valley as particularly ideal for cattle grazing. By 1856 a permanent British settlement was founded and the land was so bountiful Rockhampton thrived immediately. Only three years later the discovery of huge gold deposits upstream brought even more trade to the town. Rockhampton was so viable that the severe economic depression of the 1890’s hardly affected development - many of the Victorian buildings date from this time. Cattle is still the big thing, hence it’s claim to be The Beef City; six bull statues stand throughout the city and an undercover rodeo takes place every Friday. It’s also a city of culture with the extensive Rockhampton Art Gallery drawing in visitors nationwide, and the Rockhampton Heritage Village providing an excellent glimpse of colonial-era life. There are plenty of great riverside parks to enjoy, and the zoo is completely free.