Understand
Rockhampton is one of Queensland's oldest cities, established in 1855.
Rockhampton was named by Queensland's first Land Commissioner, Mr W. Wiseman, who was supposedly inspired by the rocks in the river flowing through the town.
During the late 1800s, several nearby gold discoveries ensured continued economic growth of the region, and of Rockhampton itself. Subsequently, as mining, grazing, farming and meat processing industries developed in Central Queensland, Rockhampton thrived as a regional service centre.
Rockhampton was finally recognised as a city in 1902, and has continued to grow slowly but steadily ever since. Rockhamptonâs current population is around 59,000. The Rockhampton area is surprisingly busy, with considerable traffic on the roads, and a substantial suburban area. It has a feel much more of a developed city than of an outback town.
Rockhampton is almost universally called Rocky. Just about every business has some variation of Rocky in their name or their promotion.
