Climate.— The climate is healthful and the temperature comparatively equable. The mean temperature at II: risbane is 69°, the extreme range being from 35° to 106°. In the more northern parts the climate is tropical. The rainfall in the interior is scanty and variable; the mean at Brisbane is about 35 inches. In some parts it is now supplemented by means of artesian wells.
Forestry, Fauna, etc.— The state possesses various kinds of valuable timber, such as the red cedar, the Moreton Bay pine, the cypress pine and several species of eucalyptus. Some of the grasses are valuable as fodder plants. There are several good indigenous fruits. The animals and plants are similar to those of the rest of Australia. Crocodiles are found in some of the northern rivers. Pearl-fishing is exten sively carried on in the extreme north, and the beche-de-mer, dugong and other fisheries are also of some importance.
Agriculture.— The soil and climate are suited for the production of all the ordinary cereals, as well as maize, tobacco, coffee, sugar, cotton and other plants. Maize is more gen erally cultivated than any other cereal crop. The next crop in point of importance is sugar. All kinds of semi-tropical and English fruits are abundantly grown. Sheep-farming is the chief industry and cattle-breeding is also important.
Commerce, Manufactures, Communica principal imports are apparel and haberdashery, cottons and woolens, flour, iron and steel, boots and shoes, tea, spirits, hardware, machinery, wine, etc.; and the principal exports, wool, gold, tin, sugar, preserved meat, cotton, wood, hides and skins. The imports come mainly from the United Kingdom and the United States. The value of imports for 1915 16 amounted to 17,000,912; the exports to £8,106, 123. A duty of 5 per cent is charged on im ports of yarns, woven fabrics, paper, stationery, etc.; and duties at other and even higher rates on other articles.
The manufactures are comparatively unim portant; the chief industrial establishments are sugar-mills, steam saw-mills, soap-works, dis tilleries, breweries, carriage-works, butter-fac tories, boot and shoe factories, cordial-factories, etc. There are 4,840 miles of state-owned railway open. The most important lines are the three which reach the coast at Brisbane, Rock hampton and Halifax Bay. In 1915 the regis
tered shipping consisted of 164 sailing vessels of 6,107 net tons, and 124 steamers of 14,753 net tons.
Government, Education and Religion.— The government is vested in a governor, who is the king's representative, an executive council, and a parliament of two houses, the legislative council and the legislative assembly. The council consists of 38 members appointed by the Crown for life, no limit being put to the num ber; and the assembly of 72 members elected by the people for three years, and repre senting 72 electoral districts. In 1914 women were also enfranchised. The revenue for the year ending 30 June 1917 was estimated at £7,876,548; the expenditures at £8,034,624. Education is free and secular in the state schools, of which there are 1,550 elementary schools, six high schools and 10 grammar schools. There are also 147 private schools. A university was established for the state at Brisbane in 1911. There is no state church, each religious denomination being entirely self supporting. Anglicans predominate, with Ro man Catholic second. There are a number of charitable institutions maintained by public sub scription supplemented by state endowment. The commonwealth also pays an Old Age and Invalid Pensions.
The first settlement of Queens land took place in 1825, when the territory was used as a place of transportation for convicts, who continued to be sent there till 1839. In 1842 the country was opened to free settlers. It was originally a part of New South Wales, until in December 1859, it was organized as a separate colony under its present name instead of the earlier one of Moreton Bay District. In 1901 it became one of the states of the Aus tralian commonwealth. Pop 1916, est. 687,480. See AUSTRALIA.
Consult Russell, H. S., Genesis of Queensland' (Sydney 1888) ; Gral It, of India and North ueens land, 1857-1912' (London 1913) ; Ma ew, J., Representative Tribes of Queensland' (London 1914) ; Weedon, T., Past and Present' (Brisbane 1897) ; and Pugh's Almanac, Court Guide, Gazeteer, etc.', an annual publication (Brisbane).