Ruqayyah Snyder
Queensland, also known as the 'Sunshine State', is a state in northeastern Australia. It is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia, with a population of over 5.5 million. Queensland was founded as a colony in 1859 when Queen Victoria signed the letters patent to separate it from New South Wales, making it a self-governing Crown colony. Today, it is known for its tropical and subtropical climate, diverse landscapes, and thriving industries, including tourism, mining, agriculture, and international education. With its rich history, cultural significance, and natural beauty, Queensland plays a vital role in shaping Australia's identity as a nation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is Queensland a state in Australia? | Yes |
| Date of statehood | 6 June 1859 |
| Capital city | Brisbane |
| Population | 5,211,852 (as of 2022) |
| Area | 1,852,642 square kilometers |
| Governor | Jeannette Young |
| Premier | Annastacia Palaszczuk |
| Federal senators | 12 |
| Federal lower house seats | 30 |
| State lower house seats | 93 |
| Gross state product | AU$356.3 billion (as of 2020-21) |
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What You'll Learn
Queensland is the second-largest state in Australia
Queensland is a state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in the country. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, southwest and south, respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and the Pacific Ocean. To the north of Queensland lies the Torres Strait, which separates the Australian mainland from Papua New Guinea, and the Gulf of Carpentaria to the northwest. With an area of 1,723,030 square kilometres (665,270 sq mi), Queensland is the world's sixth-largest subnational entity; it is larger than all but 16 countries.
Due to its size, Queensland's geographical features and climates are diverse, including tropical rainforests, rivers, coral reefs, mountain ranges and white sandy beaches in its tropical and subtropical coastal regions. Queensland is nicknamed the 'Sunshine State' for its tropical and subtropical climates, Great Barrier Reef, and numerous beaches. The state has also experienced rapid population growth through 'sunbelt' migration to its more attractive coastal regions. Queensland has a population of over 5.5 million, with nearly three-quarters concentrated in the southeast of the state, where the capital, Brisbane, is located. Brisbane is Australia's third-largest city and comprises half of Queensland's population.
Queensland was first inhabited by Aboriginal Australians, with the Torres Strait Islands inhabited by Torres Strait Islanders. Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon, the first European to land in Australia, explored the west coast of the Cape York Peninsula in 1606. In 1770, James Cook claimed the east coast of Australia for the Kingdom of Great Britain. In 1788, Arthur Phillip founded the colony of New South Wales, which included all of what is now Queensland. Queensland was explored in subsequent decades, and the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement was established at Brisbane in 1824 by John Oxley. During the Australian frontier wars of the 19th century, colonists killed tens of thousands of Aboriginal people in Queensland while consolidating their control over the territory.
On 6 June 1859 (now commemorated as Queensland Day), Queen Victoria signed the letters patent to establish the colony of Queensland, separating it from New South Wales and thereby establishing Queensland as a self-governing Crown colony with responsible government. A large part of colonial Queensland's economy relied on blackbirded South Sea Islander slavery. Queensland was among the six colonies that became the founding states of Australia with Federation on 1 January 1901.
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Brisbane is Queensland's capital
Queensland is a state in northeastern Australia. It is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia, with a population of over 5.5 million. Queensland was first inhabited by Aboriginal Australians, and Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon was the first European to land in Australia, exploring the west coast of the Cape York Peninsula in 1606.
Brisbane is the capital and largest city of Queensland. It is Australia's third-largest city, with a population of approximately 2.8 million. Brisbane is a global centre for research and innovation and is a transportation hub, served by large rail, bus, ferry, air, and sea networks. The city is situated within a peninsula of the Brisbane River, about 15 km from its mouth at Moreton Bay. Brisbane's metropolitan area sprawls over the hilly floodplain of the Brisbane River Valley between Moreton Bay and the Taylor and D'Aguilar mountain ranges.
Brisbane was selected as the capital of Queensland in 1859 when the state separated from New South Wales. The city's central business district is home to the Queensland Cultural Centre, which includes the State Library and the Gallery of Modern Art. Brisbane has also hosted major international events, including the final Goodwill Games in 2001 and the Rugby League World Cup final in 2008 and 2017.
Brisbane is a diverse city, with over 36% of its metropolitan population being foreign-born. The city is frequently ranked highly on lists of the world's most liveable cities. Brisbane's tallest building is the Brisbane Skytower, standing at a height of 270 m. The city is also home to architecturally prominent skyscrapers, such as the Harry Seidler-designed Riparian Plaza and One One One Eagle Street.
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Queensland was inhabited by Aboriginal Australians
Queensland is indeed a state in Australia. It is located in the northeast of the country and is the second-largest and third-most populous state, with a population of over 5.5 million. Queensland occupies nearly one-fourth of the continent and is larger than the US state of Texas and seven times larger than the United Kingdom.
Queensland was first inhabited by Aboriginal Australians. The Aboriginal ownership of Queensland is thought to predate 50,000 BC, and early migrants are believed to have arrived by boat or via a land bridge across the Torres Strait. Over time, their descendants developed into more than 90 different language and cultural groups, with complex trade networks, inter-cultural relationships, laws, and religions.
Aboriginal Australians are the indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and its islands, excluding the ethnically distinct people of the Torres Strait Islands. Humans first migrated to Australia 50,000 to 65,000 years ago, and archaeological evidence indicates that the ancestors of today's Aboriginal Australians migrated during this period. Genomic studies suggest that the peopling of Australia occurred between 43,000 and 60,000 years ago.
In Queensland, groups such as the Murri in Central and Northern Queensland and the Goorie in South East Queensland are specific to the region. The Aboriginal people of Queensland experienced significant violence during the Australian frontier wars of the 19th century, with colonists killing tens of thousands of Aboriginal people while consolidating their control over the territory.
Today, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprise 3.8% of Australia's population, and most live in cities and speak English. However, many also speak the traditional languages of their clans and peoples.
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Queensland is a self-governing state
Queensland is a state in northeastern Australia. It is the second-largest and third-most populous state in the country. Queensland is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia, and New South Wales to the west, southwest, and south, respectively. To the east, it is bordered by the Coral Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Queensland is larger than all but 16 countries, and its geographical features and climates are diverse, including tropical rainforests, rivers, coral reefs, mountain ranges, and sandy beaches.
Queensland was first inhabited by Aboriginal Australians, with the early migrants believed to have arrived via boat or land bridge across the Torres Strait. In 1770, James Cook claimed the east coast of Australia for the Kingdom of Great Britain. Queensland was originally part of the British-administered colony of New South Wales, but on June 6, 1859, Queen Victoria signed letters patent to establish the separate colony of Queensland, making it a self-governing Crown colony with responsible government.
Queensland has a parliamentary constitutional monarchy form of government. The state's constitution, the Constitution of Queensland, sets out the operation of the state's government and contains several entrenched provisions that cannot be changed without a referendum. The state also has a statutory charter of rights, the Queensland Human Rights Act 2019. The Queensland Government consists of the Executive Council of Queensland, which formalises the decisions of the Cabinet of Queensland, led by the Premier. The Premier is the Head of Government and, along with the Cabinet, exercises executive authority. The current Governor of Queensland is Jeannette Young, who is appointed by the Monarch and on whose advice the Premier is appointed.
Queensland has a substantial resource-based economy, with exports predominantly in pastoral, agricultural, and mineral products. It has the third-largest economy among Australian states, with strengths in mining, agriculture, transportation, international education, insurance, and banking. Queensland was among the six colonies that became the founding states of Australia on January 1, 1901.
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Queensland is Australia's third-largest economy
Queensland is a state in northeastern Australia. It is the second-largest state in Australia, occupying nearly one-fourth of the continent. Queensland is larger than the US state of Texas and seven times larger than the United Kingdom. The state has a population of over 5.5 million, with nearly three-quarters of its residents concentrated in the southeast.
Tourism is another vital contributor to Queensland's economy, with the state being nicknamed the ''Sunshine State' due to its tropical and subtropical climates, numerous beaches, and attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef. The tourism industry contributed an estimated $15.7 billion to the state's economy in 2023-24, providing 156,000 direct jobs. Queensland's second-largest city, the Gold Coast, is among the most popular tourist destinations in the state.
The healthcare sector is Queensland's largest employer, with 455,900 workers in 2023-24. The construction sector is the third-largest employer, employing 278,600 people in the same period. The state's financial and professional services sectors are also strong, contributing $57.0 billion to Queensland's economic output and employing 305,700 people in 2023-24.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Queensland is a state in Australia.
The capital of Queensland is Brisbane, which is also Australia's third-largest city.
Queensland has a population of over 5 million, with nearly three-quarters of its residents living in South East Queensland.
Queensland has the third-largest economy among Australian states, with strengths in mining, agriculture, transportation, international education, insurance, and banking.
Queensland occupies nearly one-fourth of the continent and is the second-largest state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia, and New South Wales. It is known for its diverse landscapes, including tropical rainforests, rivers, coral reefs, mountain ranges, and beaches.
