Blackwater
Postcode: 4717
Blackwater is the major town of a significant coal mining area in Central Queensland, Australia. The town is the administrative centre of the Duaringa Shire which covers an area of approximately 18200 square kilometres. At the 2001 census, Blackwater had a population of 4,913.
Six major open cut coal mines dot the landscape surrounding the town and provide its main employment opportunities. The town is also situated close to the Blackdown Tableland National Park which lies to the south.
Blackwater is supposedly named after the Blackwater Creek which apparently was first observed to flow with black water, this may have been caused by tree roots growing into the creek. Coal deposits were discovered there by Ludwig Leichhardt in 1845.
Although purpose-built to support the mining operation, the town rewards the visitor with some impressive scenery, highlighted by the stunning Blackdown Tableland National Park to the east.
A northern spur of a sandstone escarpment, which also embraces the wonder of the Carnarvon Gorge, Blackdown weaves its own spell with magic rainforest, waterfalls and creek-bedded chasms.