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Gladstone is an industrial port city located on the coast of Queensland , Australia . The city's population stands at 28,500 (2004 estimate), of whom 3.5 percent are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin, with the remainder being of primarily European descent. An additional 15,800 (2003 estimate) persons live in the adjoining Calliope Shire . Being a port city, its local commerce is primarily industrial-based and include large-scale industrial plants include alumina refineries, aluminium smelting, heavy chemicals and shale oil. FACILITIES & ATTRACTIONS Gladstone has several primary schools (Clinton State School, Kin Kora State School, South State School, West State School, Central State School, St John's College, Star of the Sea, Trinity College and St Steven's), three high schools (Gladstone State High, Toolooa State High and Chanel College), and one university campus, Central Queensland University . It is also home to award winning CQIT ( TAFE ) Gladstone Campus. It was once branded "Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef " as it has access to Heron Island and other islands from the Marina . Gladstone has much to offer both tourists and locals alike. Gladstone attained the title of "Tidy Town of 2003". Some of the local attractions include Gladstone Marina where people can relax and enjoy a picnic or make use of the barbecues. Spinnaker Park provides a small netted swimming area, shelters, and barbecues, and some great walking paths. At certain times of the day you may spot the pods of dolphins which frequent the harbour. From Auckland Point lookout you can view the harbour and get a look at the workings of a major wharf. Barney Point provides barbecues, shelters and walking areas and a local park. Lake Callemondah is a very quiet, has several walking paths around the lake and a few nice spots to stop, relax, and watch the birdlife. 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. A little further afield (25km south of Gladstone) is Lake Awoonga. The recreation area continues to draw visitors from all over Australia, with free barbecues, swimming, landscaped walking trails, as well as a cafe and caravan park. The lake has been stocked with several fish species since 1996, and over 2 million barramundi have been released, with the largest caught at the end of 2004 weighing in at a hefty 29.8kg. In addition to the fishing, Lake Awoonga has many wonderful natural attractions, especially the wildlife. With around 200 species of birds (or 25% of Australia's bird species) found in the region. Lake Awonga is also the primary source of Gladstone's water supply. While Gladstone at present it has a small number of shopping precincts, this is improving. The main shopping malls/centres are Stockland Gladstone (formerly the Kin Kora Centre/Mall which has a number of major national retailers such as Woolworths, Big W, Kmart, Target Country, Coles and Best and Less); Centro Gladstone (Woolworths and The Warehouse are the two biggest retailers) and Gladstone Central (that includes the Night Owl Centre, with a number of franchises including Dominos Pizza, The Cheesecake Shop, Subway, Nightowl, Civic Video, Sports Scene and Toyworld. IGA Express has recently been constructed and a news site for the Gladstone Cinemas is currently being constructed). There are also many smaller shops located along the "main" street of town in the CBD (Goondoon Street). Peak hour traffic along the Dawson highway (the main thoroughfare into the city centre for residents living in the outer suburbs of Clinton and New Auckland) can be a headache for commuters with waits of up to 30 mins at times. Gladstone City Council has finished construction of a four-lane section of road, which was previously only two lanes (between the Chapman Drive roundabout and the Penda Avenue roundabout). The city of past few years has experienced major growth booms with industries setting up and expanding, new services have been provided to cope but are not doing quite well. The city centre is being re-developed (and currently open) to attract visitors back to the city instead of outer suburban malls. Gladstone is serviced by the Clinton Domestic Airport Gladstone with daily flights to the states capital city Brisbane and other locations around the state. A train station is serviced by the famous QR Tilt Train and other state trains. Much of the city is passionate about sports, especially Rugby League , horse racing, Touch Football and hockey. Notable tennis player Rod Laver is a local. In the Sister City Program , Gladstone is twinned with the Japanese port of Saiki . HISTORY Prior to European settlement, the Gladstone region was home of the Baiali (or Byellee) and Goreng Goreng Aboriginal tribes. In May 1770 , the '' HM Bark Endeavour '', under the command of James Cook , sailed by the entrance to Gladstone Harbour under the cover of darkness. Matthew Flinders , during his 1801 - 1803 circumnavigation of Australia, became the first recorded European to sight the harbour in August 1802 . He named the harbour Port Curtis, after Admiral Roger Curtis , a man who was of assistance to Flinders years earlier at the Cape Of Good Hope . John Oxley conducted further exploration of the harbour and surrounding countryside in November 1823 . Oxley was dismissive of the region, noting the harbour was difficult to enter, the countryside was too dry, and the timber useless for construction purposes. Nevertheless, a colony was eventually established at Port Curtis. Colonel George Barney 's expedition was eventful. On January 25 1847 , the ''Lord Auckland'', carrying 87 soldiers and convicts, arrived off the southern entrance of Port Curtis and promptly ran aground on shoals off the southern tip of Facing Island . The settlers spent seven weeks on the island before being rescued by the supply ship ''Thomas Lowry'' and delivered the intended site of settlement, the region now known as Barney Point. The convict settlement lasted barely two months. A change of government in Britain ordered the withdrawal of Barney and the settlers. However, interest in the region remained. By 1853 , Francis MacCabe was surveying the site of a new town on the shores of Port Curtis. Maurice O'Connell was appointed government resident the following year, resulting in an influx of free settlers as land became available throughout the region. In 1863 , the town became a Municipality with Richard Hetherington elected Gladstone's first mayor. For a brief moment in its history, Gladstone was considered as a potential capital city for a new colony. Queen Victoria signed the Letters Patent on February 17 , 1846 resulting in the establishment of the Colony of North Australia, with the intended capital of this colony being the settlement on Port Curtis. These plans were shelved when the colonists were withdrawn in 1847. In 1859 , Gladstone was again considered as a potential capital as the colony of Queensland seceded from New South Wales - this honour later went to Brisbane, a decision that caused some disquiet north of Brisbane. Development of Gladstone was slow until 1893 , when a meatworks was established at Parsons Point. In 1963 , Queensland Alumina Limited established its alumina refinery on the site of the old meatworks. Gladstone's port facilities were expanded and the city launched into an era of industrial development and economic prosperity. SUBURBS The following is a list of Gladstone suburbs recognised by the Committee for Geographical Names in Australasia.
PERSONS OF NOTE FROM GLADSTONE
Jason Hethrington (football player) RADIO STATIONS
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