Blackwater Township
Blackwater is located 836 km from Brisbane and 190 km West of Rockhampton, on the Capricorn Highway. Located in Queensland’s Central Highlands, Blackwater owes its name not to the black gold (coal) in the region, but to a natural tea-tree which blackened the water in the local billabongs.

Blackwater currently has a population of approximately 8000, nearly all of whom work directly or indirectly for the mines in the area.

Blackwater is known as the Coal Capital of Queensland. The coal mines around Blackwater produce millions of tonnes of coking and steaming coal every year. The coking coal is exported to Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, Holland, France, Spain, Greece, Chile and many other countries. The steaming coal produced is used for power generation within Queensland.

Discovery of Blackwater
Blackwater township is situated on what was a pastoral block initially taken up as the “Blackwater Run” by Henry Crew and Richard Lanyon in April, 1882, and grew around a railway siding established to service the western line that was built to service the gold and copper mining (as well as the grazing areas) around the Peak Downs and Clermont areas. The township was gazetted and laid out in 1886 with the first sale of land held in December that year. Blackwater provided services for the rail workers and outlying pastoralists, including a general store, hotel, school and race track.

In 1886 the McKenzie family took up ‘Jellinbah’, a property that was later to play a significant role in the development of the coal industry. By 1893 other pastoral leases taken up in the area included ‘Curragh’, ‘Bonnie Doon’, and ‘Blackwater’. 

Things to do in Blackwater
Blackwater boasts a fine Japanese Garden that marks the relationship between Blackwater and its sister city Fujisawa, Japan.

The Lions Park is well known for one of the largest displays of flags in the world, each flag being a representative of one of the 37 nationalities who laboured together in their efforts to establish the district’s coal industry.

Anglers are welcome to drop a line in the Bedford Weir, 26 kilometres north from town, which is stocked with barramundi. There are boating, camping, toilet and shower facilities. Don’t miss the Saratoga fishing competition held each September.

Just 55 kilometres east from the township of Blackwater you will find the spectacular Blackdown Tableland National Park, which offers spectacular views and hundreds of plants and wildlife species, some of which are only found in the park. It’s a natural phenomenon that attracts about 20,000 visitors each year. There is a rich aboriginal history characterised by rock art sites and a number of interesting artefacts. While a relatively new sealed road will take you to the edge of the mountains, cattle remain an obstacle so if you’re driving - be careful. Once the road starts to climb it is unsealed and 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.