Queensland

Queensland is the second-largest and third-most populous state in the Commonwealth of Australia. Situated in the north-east of the country, 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. To its north is the Torres Strait, with Papua New Guinea located less than 200 km across it from the mainland. The state is the world's sixth-largest sub-national entity, with an area of 1,852,642 square kilometres.

History

The history of Queensland spans thousands of years, encompassing both a lengthy indigenous presence, as well as the eventful times of post-European settlement. The north-eastern Australian region was explored by Dutch, Spanish and French navigators before being encountered by Lieutenant James Cook in 1770. The state has witnessed frontier warfare between European settlers and Indigenous inhabitants (which did not result in any settlement or treaty), as well as the exploitation of cheap Kanaka labour sourced from the South Pacific through a form of forced recruitment known at the time as "blackbirding". The Australian Labor Party has its origin as a formal organisation in Queensland and the town of Barcaldine is the symbolic birthplace of the party.

Geography

Queensland is a place of natural beauty, with a dramatic coastline, tropical islands, lush rainforests, vibrant cities and the authentic Australian outback. Queensland is a great place to holiday, and it's tourist destinations, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Sunshine Coast, are renowned for their warm weather, stunning views and friendly locals.

Economy

Queensland's economy has enjoyed a boom in the tourism and mining industries over the past 20 years. A sizeable influx of interstate and overseas migrants, large amounts of federal government investment, increased mining of vast mineral deposits and an expanding aerospace sector have contributed to the state's economic growth.

Demographics

Queensland has a diverse population, with people from many different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. It is the only Australian state with a majority of its population living outside the capital city, and its population is also the second most decentralised in Australia, after Western Australia.

Education

Education in Queensland is provided by both public and private institutions. The Queensland education system is divided into primary, secondary and tertiary education.

See also

• History of Queensland
• Geography of Queensland
• Economy of Queensland
• Demographics of Queensland
• Education in Queensland

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  Captain Cook at Possession Island

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  Bulla Queensland 1861

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  Wills Tragedy 1861

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  Australian South Sea Islander cane cutters on a sugar cane plantation in Queensland

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  Parade of troops in Queen Street, Brisbane, March, 1900

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  Groupe de Kanakas dans une exploitation de canne à sucre du Queensland

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  Returned World War Two soldiers march in Queen Street, Brisbane, 1944

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  Qld region map 2

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  La Gran Barrera 2

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  Mossman River during the wet season

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  BinnaBurra5

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  Fraser Island Lake McKenzie - panoramio