Education

Gladstone has several primary schools, three high schools, and one university campus, Central Queensland University

Central Queensland University

CQUniversity is an Australian public university based in Queensland. Its main campus is in North Rockhampton Queensland. However, it also has campuses in Bundaberg, Emerald, Gladstone and Mackay, as well as operations throughout Asia-Pacific. For instance, Melior Business School is one of its...

. It is also home to CQIT (TAFE) Gladstone Campus.

Recreation

‎Gladstone has direct access to Heron Island, Wilson Island and other islands from the marina

Marina

A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....

 and local airstrips.

Boyne Island and Tannum Sands

Boyne Island

Boyne Island, Queensland

Boyne Island is a town in Queensland, Australia, 25 km south of Gladstone. It is located on the west bank of the Boyne River and is made an island by the adjoining South Trees Inlet. It is a twin town with Tannum Sands located directly across the river...

 and Tannum Sands

Tannum Sands, Queensland

Tannum Sands is a coastal town on the Central East Coast of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Tannum Sands had a population of 4,139. The population of Tannum Sands and neighbouring twin town Boyne Island is approaching 10,000...

 have grown in popularity because of their beautiful beaches and relaxed lifestyle. The Millennium Esplanade is a big attraction where there are lots of shelters, barbecues and walking paths, and long stretches of beach. Boyne Island and Tannum Sands are not part of the Gladstone township but are part of the Gladstone region and formerly part of the Calliope Shire.

Lake Awoonga

A little further afield (25 km south of Gladstone) is Lake Awoonga. The recreation area has free barbecues, swimming, landscaped walking trails, as well as a caravan park. The lake has been stocked with several fish species since 1996, and over 2 million barramundi have been released. In addition to the fishing, Lake Awoonga has many natural attractions, especially the wildlife, with more than 225 species of birds (or over 27% of Australia's bird species) found in the region. Lake Awoonga is also the primary source of Gladstone's water supply. Awoonga dam is not part of the Gladstone township but is part of the Gladstone region and formerly part of the Calliope Shire.

Politics

Gladstone is located within the federal electoral division of Flynn

Division of Flynn

The Division of Flynn is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was created in 2006, following a redistribution of seats in the state. It was first contested at the 2007 federal election. The electorate generally extends west from the port city of Gladstone, as far as the...

, a marginal seat currently held by the Liberal National Party of Queensland's Ken O'Dowd

Ken O'Dowd

Kenneth Desmond "Ken" O'Dowd is an Australian politician representing the Division of Flynn for the Liberal National Party since the 2010 Federal election....

 in Federal elections, and the state electoral district of Gladstone

Electoral district of Gladstone

The district of Gladstone is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland.The current member is independent Liz Cunningham who won the seat on National Party preferences after defeating then Labor MP Neil Bennett at the 1995 election...

, held by independent Liz Cunningham

Liz Cunningham

Elizabeth Anne "Liz" Cunningham is an Australian politician. She has been an independent member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly since 1995, representing the electorate of Gladstone...

, a mayor of the former Calliope Shire Council (which has subsequently been incorporated into Gladstone Regional Council

Gladstone Regional Council

Gladstone Regional Council is a Local Government Area in Queensland, Australia. The Local Government Area came into being on 15 March 2008 as a result of the report of the Local Government Reform Commission released in July 2007...

).

Transport

The Dawson Highway

Dawson Highway

The Dawson Highway is a state highway in Queensland, Australia. It runs for approximately 400 km between Gladstone and Springsure where it terminates...

 originates in Gladstone, and it runs for approximately 400 km to Springsure.

Rail

Gladstone is also a major stop on the North Coast railway line

North Coast railway line, Queensland

The North Coast railway line is a narrow gauge railway line in Queensland, Australia. It runs from Brisbane, along the Queensland coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The line is electrified between Brisbane and Rockhampton...

, with many long-distance passenger trains operated by QR

Queensland Rail

Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...

 Traveltrain

TravelTrain

Traveltrain provides long range passenger rail services in Queensland, run by Queensland Rail. Its flagships are the electric and diesel Tilt Trains, servicing Brisbane – Rockhampton and Brisbane – Cairns respectively...

 stopping in the area. Freight trains also pass through the region.

Air

Gladstone Airport

Gladstone Airport

Gladstone Aerodrome, , is located south of Gladstone, Manitoba, Canada....

 is located in the western suburbs of Gladstone about 6 km (8 minute drive) from the centre of the city.

The main provider of scheduled passenger air services has been Qantaslink

QantasLink

QantasLink is a regional brand of Australian airline Qantas and is an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. It is a major competitor to Regional Express Airlines, Virgin Australia and Skywest Airlines. As of September 2010 QantasLink provides 1900 flights each week to 54 domestic and...

, though Flight West Airlines also previously offered service. Strategic Airlines

Strategic Airlines

Strategic Airlines Pty Ltd, trading as Air Australia Airways is a scheduled passenger and charter airline with its head office in Hendra, Brisbane, Australia,...

 began to offer service in 2011 and Virgin Australia will commence flights in October 2011. Most flights are non-stop to Brisbane

Brisbane

Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...

.

In May 2009, a $65 million upgrade to the airport and nearby area was undertaken, which reached completion in 2011.

Sea

The Port of Gladstone

Port of Gladstone

The Port of Gladstone is Queensland's largest multi-commodity port and the fifth largest multi-commodity port in Australia. It is the world's fourth largest coal exporting terminal. It forms and integral part of the City of Gladstone in Central Queensland and is located about 525 km north of...

 is Queensland's largest multi-commodity port and the fifth largest multi-commodity port in Australia. It is the world's fourth largest coal exporting terminal.

See also

• Kroombit Tops National Park
  Kroombit Tops National Park
  Kroombit Tops is a national park in Central Queensland, Australia. Located between Monto and Calliope in The Boyne Valley, it is 399 km northwest of Brisbane. Cania Gorge National Park is located approximately 25 km to the south....
  
  
• Beautiful Betsy
  Beautiful Betsy
  Beautiful Betsy was the name of an American Liberator Bomber. The wreckage of the plane was discovered in what is now Kroombit Tops National Park, located in The Boyne Valley in central Queensland, Australia.-Fact sheet:...
  
  
• The Boyne Valley
• Monto
  Monto, Queensland
  Monto is a town in Queensland, Australia, located on the Burnett Highway north-west of Brisbane and south of Rockhampton. The town was the administrative centre of Monto Shire. At the 2006 census, Monto had a population of 1,159.-History:...
  
  
• Calliope, Queensland
  Calliope, Queensland
  Calliope is a town located in Central Queensland, Australia. It is located near the junction of the Bruce Highway and the Dawson Highway, 20 kilometres SSW of the port city of Gladstone...
  
  
• Tannum Sands, Queensland
  Tannum Sands, Queensland
  Tannum Sands is a coastal town on the Central East Coast of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Tannum Sands had a population of 4,139. The population of Tannum Sands and neighbouring twin town Boyne Island is approaching 10,000...
  
  
• Ubobo, Queensland
  Ubobo, Queensland
  Ubobo is located south of Gladstone and Calliope along Highway 69 in Central Queensland, Australia. It is one of four small townships within The Boyne Valley along with Nagoorin, Builyan, and Many Peaks. It is part of the Gladstone Regional Council....
  
  
• Nagoorin, Queensland
  Nagoorin, Queensland
  Nagoorin is located in Central Queensland, Australia. It is one of four small townships within The Boyne Valley along with Ubobo, Builyan, and Many Peaks. It is part of the Gladstone Regional Council.-External links:***...
  
  
• Builyan, Queensland
  Builyan, Queensland
  Builyan is located in Central Queensland, Australia. It is one of four small townships within The Boyne Valley along with Nagoorin, Ubobo, and Many Peaks. It is part of the Gladstone Regional Council area.-See also:*Kroombit Tops National Park*Monto...
  
  
• Many Peaks, Queensland
  Many Peaks, Queensland
  Many Peaks is located in Central Queensland, Australia. It is one of four small townships within The Boyne Valley along with Nagoorin, Builyan and Ubobo. It is part of the Gladstone Regional Council.-See also:*Kroombit Tops National Park*Monto*Gladstone...
  
  
• Lake Awoonga
  Lake Awoonga
  Lake Awoonga was formed on the Boyne River by the dam located from Gladstone, in Central Queensland, Australia. It is approximately 30 minutes drive from Gladstone, via Benaraby.Lake Awoonga is the main water supply for the Gladstone region...
  
  

These above places are part of the Gladstone Region but were formerly part of the Calliope & Miriamvale Shires

External links

• University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Gladstone