Gladstone is an Australian city approximately 550 kilometres by road north of Brisbane and 100 kilometres south-east of
Rockhampton.
Situated between the
Calliope and Boyne Rivers, Gladstone is home to Queensland's largest multi-commodity port.
The city's population at the 2006 Census was 28,808, of whom 3.7 percent are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin.
The City of Gladstone contains a land area of 128 square kilometres. In addition to the mainland area, the Local Authority Area contains fourteen (14) islands.
The
Gladstone Regional Council, formed in 2008, amalgamates multiple previous local government areas.
Receation:
Gladstone has direct access to
Heron Island,
Wilson Island and other islands from the marina and local airstrips.
Boyne Island and Tannum Sands
Boyne Island and
Tannum Sands 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.
