QUEENSLAND, since 1901 an Aus tralian state, comprising the whole N. E. portion of Australia N. of New South Wales and E. of South Australia and its Northern Territory, being elsewhere bounded by the Gulf of Carpentaria, Torres Strait, and the Pacific. A con siderable portion is thus within the trop ics, the extreme N. part forming a sort of peninsula, known as York Peninsula. It has an area of 670,500 square miles; pop. about 715,000.
Topography.—Toward the W. a large portion of the surface is dry and bar ren, but toward the E., and for a long stretch along the coast, boundless plains or downs, admirably adapted for sheep walks. The highest mountains are near the coast, the greatest elevation being about 5,400 feet. The principal rivers are the Brisbane, the Burnett, the Pi oneer, the Fitzroy, and the Burdekin flowing into the Pacific, and the Flinders and Mitchell into the Gulf of Carpen taria. In the N. part the climate is tropical. The rainfall in the interior is scanty and variable; the mean at Bris bane is about 35 inches. The indige nous animals and plants are similar to those of the rest of Australia. Croco diles inhabit some of the N. rivers.
Productions.—There are many kinds of valuable timber trees, and a rare thing in Australia, a few good indigenous fruits. Sheep farming is the chief in dustry, but agriculture (including sugar growing), cattle rearing, and mining are also important. The soil and climate are well suited for the production of all the ordinary cereals, as well as maize, to bacco, coffee, sugar, cotton, etc. The
chief products are sugar, maize, English and sweet potatoes, arrow root, and semi-tropical fruits. Sugar growing is becoming a very important industry. Gold, tin, lead, and copper are the prin cipal minerals.
In the N. pearl fishing is actively car ried on. The manufacturers are unim portant. The principal manufactories, or works that may be classed as such, are sugar mills, steam sawmills, soap works, agricultural implement works, and distilleries. The staple articles of export to the United Kingdom are wool, tallow, and preserved meats.
Education and Religion.—Education is free and secular in the public schools, and is under a special department con trolled by the minister for education. A university was established at Brisbane in 1911.
History.—The first settlement of Queensland took place in 1825, when the territory was used as a place of trans portation for convicts, who continued to be sent there till 1839. In 1842 the coun try was opened to free settlers. It was originally a part of New South Wales, and was organized as a separate colony in 1859. The government of the colony is vested in a governor, who is the crown's representative, and a Parlia ment of two houses, the legislative coun cil and the legislative assembly. The capital of the colony is Brisbane; pop. about 180,000. In January, 1896, a dis astrous flood caused great loss of life and property in Brisbane and northern Queensland.