Gladstone

Despite the fact that the famous English seafarer Matthew Flinders discovered Port Curtis, Gladstone’s deep-water harbour, it was only in the 1960’s that the city started to develop. Today, it is a vital traffic point for Queensland’s mineral and agricultural wealth and huge quantities of cargo are being handled at the port. Gladstone is the departure point for Heron Island, one of the few islands in the southern part of the Barrier Reef that provides a holiday resort for keen divers and snorkellers. The Regional Art Gallery promotes local arts and crafts and combines this with history exhibitions. The local Maritime Museum provides an insight into 200 years of port history.