Facts:

Name: Queensland
Capital: Brisbane (2,146,577 population) (2012)
Population: 4,676,400 (2014)
Population Density: 2.61/km2 (6.8 /sq mi)
Populations (all countries)
Currency: Australian Dollar

Queensland GSP (gross state product) per capita: A$55,414 (2011-2012)
Australian Ethnicity: (countrywide) English 32%, Australian 27%, Irish 7%, Italian 4%, indigenous 3%, Scottish 2%, German 2%, Chinese 2%
Australian Languages: (countrywide) English 78.5%, Chinese 2.5%, Italian 1.6%, Greek 1.3%, Arabic 1.2%, Vietnamese 1%, other 8.2%, unspecified 5.7% (2006 Census)
Australian Religion: (countrywide) Protestant 27.4% (Anglican 18.7%, Uniting Church 5.7%, Presbyterian and Reformed 3%), Catholic 25.8%, Eastern Orthodox 2.7%, other Christian 7.9%, Buddhist 2.1%, Muslim 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 11.3%, none 18.7% (2006 Census)

Largest Cities: (by population) Brisbane, Gold Coast, Townsville, Thuringowa, Cairns, Toowoomba
Name: Named for the reigning queen at time of declaration, Queen Victoria
National Day: January 26
Time Zone UTC+10 (AEST) does not observe DST

Description:

The Gold Coast of Queensland, the second-largest state in Australia, was first occupied by Australian Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders who arrived nearly 40,000 years ago.
Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon landed on the western shore of Cape York in the early 17th century, and became one of the first Europeans to encounter Aborigines. The French and Spanish sailed along the coast in the following years, however on August 22, 1770, it was Lieutenant James Cook that claimed the eastern coast for England.
At that time the region encompassing present-day New South Wales and Queensland was simply known as New South Wales.
A series of conflicts (the Australian frontier wars) raged across the the entire country of Australia between the indigenous peoples and European settlers in the late 1700s, lasting 151 years. In Queensland, the battles were more gruesome and bitter than in any other state or territory due to the region’s larger population of Aboriginals.

The loss of life was great on both sides as frontier violence peaked during the 1870s.
A public meeting was held in 1851 to consider Queensland’s separation from New South Wales, and on December 10, 1859 George Bowen read the proclamation of separation. Bowen later became the state’s first Governor, and Robert Herbert was the first Premier.
As World War II reared its ugly head in the 1940s, Queensland found itself on the frontline, as several cities in the northern part of the state were bombed by Japan.
Australian and U.S. forces established a strong presence in the state, and tens of thousands of Queenslanders were enlisted into the military.

Strikes and protests followed the war as workers disputed wages, and Queensland, as well as the rest of Australia and the world, began to put the pieces back together.
The state saw a rapid growth in population during the 1990s, as people were drawn in by the flourishing economy and an opportunity for young families to purchase homes at better prices than in Sydney.
As one of the fastest-growing areas of Australia, Queensland is a popular tourist destination, and with good reason. Most notably, the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, is located just off the Queensland coast in the Coral Sea.
Moving away from the Gold Coast beaches and into the rugged Outback, spectacular red hills and vast plains offer an enjoyable experience for those seeking an adventure.

Queensland is the largest territory state of Australia. It is located on the East of Australia bordered by the Pacific ocean and Coral sea. Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland.

Brisbane is Australia’s most biodiverse capital city. From the bayside to the hinterland, there is no shortage of major attractions to visit and explore in Brisbane.

Cruise the Brisbane River

With Brisbane’s warm, sub-tropical climate and our incredible riverside sights, visitors and locals should not miss out on taking one or more of the several cruises down the Brisbane River. These cruises include: River City Cruises, Kookaburra Showboat Cruises and the Koala and River Cruise by Mirimar. Each cruise comes with an array of different packages to make your Brisbane River experience worthwhile.

Although you might not meet our furry friends there, Kangaroo Point Cliffs is a popular place for picnics, abseiling, and rock climbing. While you’re there, visit the Cliffs Cafe for a breathtaking view of the city. Standing atop the ancient cliffs, the unmasked views of the river, city attractions and mountains show Brisbane at its best. We would recommend that you visit the cliffs at sunset to enjoy the best of the scenery.

A short drive from the city centre, the spectacular views from Mt Coot-tha stretch out to Moreton Bay and around to the distant mountains. At night, the city lights and star-lit skies are spread before you.

Brisbane Powerhouse

If you’re itching for more entertainment, we recommend you visit the Brisbane Powerhouse in New Farm. The Powerhouse hosts both local and international talent and is a hub for everything creative – it has two restaurants, regular art shows, free comedy, festivals, farmers’ markets and more.

Geography:

The landscape of Queensland varies, and includes tropical islands, sandy beaches, flat river plains, elevated plateaus, dry deserts, and agricultural belts.
Perhaps the most notable geographical feature of Queensland is the Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef system in the world. The Great Barrier Reef is located in the Coral Sea, and stretches over 1,250 miles (2,000 km), with an area of 133,000 sq. miles (344,400 km). Over 2,800 individual reefs make up the Great Barrier Reef, and it is the biggest single structure made by living organisms in the world
The largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island, lies just off the coast of Queensland, and contains half of the world’s dune lakes. These rare lakes have no natural inflow or outflow, and are formed in depressions between sand dunes. There are a total of 80 worldwide.

On the mainland, there are no large, natural lakes within the state, but there are hundreds of rivers. The major coastal rivers include the Flinders, Mitchell, Fitzroy, Mary, and Brisbane Rivers. At 520 miles (840 km), the Flinders River is the longest of these rivers.
In the eastern part of Queensland, the Great Dividing Range dominates the land. The highest point of the state is Mount Bartle Frere at 5,321 ft 1,622 m (1,622 m).
The lowest point of Queensland is the Pacific Ocean (0m).