An electric train taking coal from the open-cut coalmine to the coast

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.

Japanese Garden

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.

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.

	Motels
	Black Diamond Motel Capricorn Hwy Blackwater QLD 4717 Telephone: (07) 4982 5944 Rating: **
	Bottletree Motel Cnr Capricorn Hwy & Littlefield St Blackwater QLD 4717 Telephone: (07) 4982 5611 Facsimile: (07) 4982 5611 Rating: **
	Capricorn Hotel Motor Inn Taurus St Blackwater QLD 4717 Telephone: (07) 4982 5466 Rating: **
	Hotels
	Blackwater Hotel/Motel Railway St Blackwater QLD 4717 Telephone: (07) 4982 5133 Facsimile: (07) 4986 1006
	Farm & Eco Holidays
	Naomi Hills Cattle Station Dingo via Blackwater QLD 4717 Telephone: (07) 4935 9121
	Caravan Parks
	Bottletree Caravan Park Cnr Capricorn Hwy & Littlefield St Blackwater QLD 4717 Telephone: (07) 4982 5611 Facsimile: (07) 4982 5611
	Dingo Caravan Park Cairns St Dingo, 4702 Blackwater QLD 4717 Telephone: (07) 4935 9177
	Restaurants
	Blackwater and District Workers Club Arthur St Blackwater QLD 4717 Telephone: (07) 4982 5590
	Blackwater Country Club Mulga St Blackwater QLD 4717 Telephone: (07) 4982 5275
	Blackwater Hotel Railway St Blackwater QLD 4717 Telephone: (07) 4982 5133 Facsimile: (07) 4986 1006
	Capricorn Hotel Taurus St Blackwater QLD 4717 Telephone: (07) 4982 5466