THE HISTORY of Queensland oldest operating coastal lighthouse at Bustard Head reads like a Hollywood script featuring murder, suicide, shark attacks, drownings, and ultimate triumph over adversity. Stuart Buchanan began his first stint as lighthouse keeper at the 152-year-old structure in 1974, and has written six books during that time about the fascinating tales associated with the historic light. These include
Light of their Lives: The fight to save Bustard Head. An aerial photo of the Bustard Head lighthouse and the 1770 LARC, which conducts regular tours to the historic light station.
Construction Bustard Head Lighthouse Association Inc president Stuart Buchanan said the cast iron structure was designed and its heavy panels founded in the United Kingdom, before being shipped to Australia and assembled on site.
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Subscriber only Mesmeric coral reefs and seagrass beds throughout Central Queensland will live longer thanks to a partnership involving Gladstone Ports Corporation. GPC has teamed up with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to install $113,500 worth of reef protection infrastructure, south of Gladstone. QPWS rangers worked with Gidarjil Land and Sea Country Rangers and local contractors to install six of the environmentally friendly vessel moorings (EFMs). The large team also installed six reef protection markers at Pancake Creek, located approximately 20 kilometres north of the Town of 1770. The project was all part of GPC s Biodiversity Offset Strategy partnering with QPWS Reef Protection Program which aimed to reduce the impacts of anchor damage on sensitive coral reef and seagrass communities.
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With school holidays almost coming to an end, there are still plenty of things left to do in the region.
One of them is visiting the abundance of naturally beautiful spots we have in Central Queensland.
Here are nine waterholes you must visit in Central Queensland to beat the heat this summer:
1. Blackman’s Gap, Boyne Valley
Located in the Boyne Valley, Blackmans Gap is a one hour and nine minute drive from Gladstone.
Turn off the Gladstone Monto Rd onto Blackmans Gap and drive for a few kilometres until you find a small parking area.