Marlborough, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Marlborough is a small township located 106 kilometres (66 mi) north west of the city of Rockhampton
in central Queensland
, Australia
. The town is administered by the Rockhampton Regional Council
, and lies on the Bruce Highway
. At the 2006 census
, Marlborough and the surrounding area had a population of 355.
The town, first established in 1856, is a small service centre for the surrounding area, and one of a number of fuelling points on an otherwise isolated stretch of highway. To the south lies the Kunwarara Magnesite
mine, which works one of the world's largest supplies of the mineral. The town has a school with only a few students. They compete against different schools in the area such as Clarke Creek State School, Milman State School and School of Distance Education. They compete in swimming and athletic carnivals which they normally host, having a 16-metre pool and a grassy oval. Marlborough is famous for producing the world's finest chrysoprase
, a semi-precious gem once coveted by Alexander the Great and Cleopatra. The small but high-grade deposit is located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) south-south-west of the township and is universally regarded as the most valuable find in the world.
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
in central Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The town is administered by the Rockhampton Regional Council
Rockhampton Regional Council
The Rockhampton Region is a Local Government Area located in Central Queensland, Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by four previous local government areas extending to almost the beginning of local government in Queensland....
, and lies on the Bruce Highway
Bruce Highway
The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is a part of the Australian National Highway and also part of Highway 1...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Marlborough and the surrounding area had a population of 355.
The town, first established in 1856, is a small service centre for the surrounding area, and one of a number of fuelling points on an otherwise isolated stretch of highway. To the south lies the Kunwarara Magnesite
Magnesite
Magnesite is magnesium carbonate, MgCO3. Iron substitutes for magnesium with a complete solution series with siderite, FeCO3. Calcium, manganese, cobalt, and nickel may also occur in small amounts...
mine, which works one of the world's largest supplies of the mineral. The town has a school with only a few students. They compete against different schools in the area such as Clarke Creek State School, Milman State School and School of Distance Education. They compete in swimming and athletic carnivals which they normally host, having a 16-metre pool and a grassy oval. Marlborough is famous for producing the world's finest chrysoprase
Chrysoprase
Chrysoprase, chrysophrase or chrysoprasus is a gemstone variety of chalcedony that contains small quantities of nickel. Its color is normally apple-green, but varies to deep green. The darker varieties of chrysoprase are also referred to as prase...
, a semi-precious gem once coveted by Alexander the Great and Cleopatra. The small but high-grade deposit is located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) south-south-west of the township and is universally regarded as the most valuable find in the world.