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| An electric train taking
coal from the open-cut coalmine to the coast
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Blackwater (and Blackdown Tablelands)
A modern mining town servicing the nearby open cut coal
mines.
Blackwater is 836 km from Brisbane and 190 km from
Rockhampton, west on the Capricorn Highway. The town got its
name from the colouring of the local water supply by ti-trees
which are common in the area.
The visitor could well think Blackwater is little more
than a few petrol stations and motels because the highway
skirts around the southern edge of the town ignoring the
shopping centre and the vast areas of miner housing.
Behind the motels and roadhouses lies a town which was
originally designed to hold 20 000 people. It currently has
a population of around 8000, nearly all of whom work for the
mines in the area. The result is a town which has shrunk
from its original conception.
The first person to discover the Blackwater coal deposits
was Ludwig Leichhardt who travelled through the district in
1845 on his way to Port Essington in the Northern Territory.
27 km from the present site of Blackwater Leichhardt
observed 'beds of coal indistinguishable from those on the
Hunter at Newcastle.'
The township, named after the local water holes which
seemed to have black water in them, was gazetted and laid
out in 1886 after the railway arrived in the area. There was
an attempt to establish a coal mine west of Blackwater
during 1892-3 but it was short lived.
It wasn't until the early 1960s that the town really
started to develop. In 1959-60 coking coal was found to the
south of the town. A mining lease was granted in 1965 and in
1967 the first mine in the area started operating. It is
claimed that in 1962 the town's population was only 25.
Twenty years later it had grown to over 8000.
The coal reserves in the area are now being exploited by
BMA which is a combination of the former BHP and South
Blackwater Mines. Other companies involved in local mining
include Curragh Queensland Mining Ltd, Cook Resources Mining
Pty Ltd, Jellinbah Mine, Kenmare and Yarrabee Coal Company
Ltd.
Blackwater is in many ways a model of how the community
as a whole can be shielded from the grime of coalmining. The
coal is shipped to Gladstone by electric trains (the line
was electrified in 1988) which are often over a kilometre in
length. Consequently there are no coal trucks choking up the
roads in the area and the mines are far removed from the
town.
Things to see:
The Coal Mine
There used to be tours of the mine. They stopped some years
ago. There is no point in going out to the main building at
the main mine site because it gives no insights into the
open-cut process - in fact you can't even see the mining
area.
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| Japanese Garden
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Japanese Garden and Tourist Information Centre
The Garden marks the Sister Town relationship with Fujisawa,
Japan.
Commenced in December 1997, it was completed eight months
later and officially opened on 1st August 1998, in the
presence of the Mayors of Fujisawa and Duaringa Shire, and
other visiting Japanese and Australian dignitaries.
Approximately 600 tonnes of ornamental stone are used in
the Garden, which was constructed by Duaringa Shire council
works staff, in association with 14 Japanese gardeners,
carpenters and interpreters who visited especially for a
period of 8 days.
The Garden is just one feature which has turned a barren
area of State Government land into a well-patronised
community and visitor recreation facility.
A children's playground has been constructed adjacent to
the Japanese Garden, and the area also features a tourist
information centre, restored steam locomotive and, a
developing mining equipment display.
The tourist information centre is the old railway station
that has been restored and also accommodates the historical
society displays. The development of this venue is ongoing.
The Lions Park
On the Capricorn Highway to the west of the town (marked by
the water tower) is the Lions Park which has the flags of 37
nations flying. The idea was to have a flag for every
nationality working on the coalfields. It is recognised as
the largest flag display in the world apart, obviously, from
the one at the United Nations building in New York. The
Lions Park is an ideal place to stop for a picnic.
Mining Display
For those interested in mining history there is a display of
mining equipment next to the Japanese garden. Much of the
equipment dates from the 1920s and 1930s when the Rangal
Mine was in operation. A gas explosion in 1934 which killed
four miners saw the mine close down.
At the Coal Face Memorial
Near the Ambulance Station in McKenzie Street is a memorial
titled 'At The Coal Face' which recalls all those miners
killed in accidents at the Blackwater pits.
War Memorial
Two pine trees grown from pine seeds taken from the
Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey are the highlight of the
town's War Memorial. This memorial is located beside the
Blackwater and District Workers Club in Arthur Street.
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| Magnificent views from
Blackdown Tablelands |
Blackdown Tablelands
Located 55km from Blackwater are the spectacular Blackdown
Tablelands. They are basically a sandstone island which
rises 600 metres above the surrounding plains. Blackdown
Tablelands were formed millions of years ago when a shift in
the earth's plates pushed this sandstone and sedimentary
rock from an inland lake upwards.
It's a natural phenomenon that attracts about 20,000
visitors each year and there is a rich aboriginal history
characterised by a number of interesting artefacts.
There's a relatively new sealed road to the edge of the
mountains, but cattle remain an obstacle so if you're
driving - be careful. Once the road starts to climb it gets
steep, it's tricky to drive on in the dry and frightening in
the wet. But the reward once you reach the top is a
magnificent view of rugged cliff faces and surrounding
lowlands. Camping facilities in the national park are good.
There are toilets, fireplaces and picnic tables though you
do need to bring your own drinking water.
Australian Businesses for sale
Caravan Parks for sale
Motels for sale
Hotels for sale
Broadwalk Business Brokers
Businesses for Sale in Blackwater : Buy or Sell Hotels, Motels, Caravan Parks, Bed & Breakfast,
Pubs, Wine Bars, Restaurants, Cafe, English Tea Rooms, Coffee Shops,
Deli, Catering Business, Pubs, Bars, Sandwich Bars, Pizza Delivery,
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Australian Businesses for sale, Car Sales, Motor & Transport, Car/Van
Hires, Newsagents, Dry Cleaners, Salons, General Stores, Retail Stores,
Post Office, Printers, Convenience Stores, Clothes shop, Hair Dressers,
Beauty Salon, Fruit Markets, Butchers, Florist, Card & Gift shop, Sports
shop, Book Shops, Care Agency, Pharmacy, Tool-Hardware & DIY shops, Pet
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Bakery Businesses for sale , Motel sales, caravan park sales, Hotel
sales, Business sales, Bar for sale, Juice Bar for sale,
Beauty Salon for sale, Bike and Motorcycle Businesses for sale ,
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Café Business for sale, Car Dealerships for sale, Car Rental
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Business for sale, Convenience Store for sale, Deli Businesses for
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Furniture Businesses for sale , Garden Equipment Businesses for
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Wrecking Yard for sale in Blackwater .
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