Emerald, Queensland

Driving most of the day we arrived at Emerald (a link to last years visit) in good time to settle into the caravan park we stayed in last year.
How nice was the spot that was reserved for us, under a big shady tree. The days were warm but the night were cool.

The second photo was taken in the evening and there was a campfire with people sitting around it listening to a country singer who sang 3 times in the week.  Not my cup of tea.
Photo was taken from our caravan as it was only a stone throw away.

The birds came the next day so there was a rush to grab the camera and shoot.

Last photo if of an artificial tree in the shopping mall.

The population of Emerald is about 13,500 people.

Odds and Ends in Emerald.

Never expect to see roses at the Botanic Gardens but there they were all in a row - some didn't look real healthy but others did.

Could hear Kookaburras looked up and there they were.

This one is the Blue Winged Variety.

Was fiddling around trying to get just the center portion of the blossom in focus, think I achieved!

Above is the huge 23m high Van Gogh replica painting of "Sunflower" situated in Morton Park in Emerald.

Crochet I do when travelling, made 6 rugs this past winter in the tropics of Australia.

Emerald Botanic Gardens.

To the west of Emerald is an area known as The Gemfields, with small towns such as Sapphire and Rubyvale indicating the type of gems found there.
The sapphire fields located there are the largest in the southern hemisphere.

Photos of the Botanic Gardens.

Cacti

Below bamboo.

The above photo is a 'free caravan/motorhome' park for self-contained ones.  We didn't do that.

Emerald, Queensland.

Emerald is a town in the Central Highlands of Queensland with a population of about 13,500 people.
The British Colony of Queensland was established in 1859.
There is the Fairbairn Dam near Emerald which overflowed in January 2008 with major flood of 1,000 houses being affected and more than 2,500 people being evacuated.

Emerald is a service town for a large number of industries in the area.  Extensive coal mining operations are carried out in the district.  Cotton is grown in the area, and is processed at the Yamala Cotton Gin, while other agricultural activities include grapes, citrus and grain growing.
Wikipedia.

We were pleased to stay in Emerald for a few nights before heading to the coast as we thought it about time we did.

A lot of signs are made like the one below in the area and surrounding areas.

View of the Dam plus surrounding area.

On the way to Emerald, Queensland.

Selection of photos taken on the way to Emerald in Queensland.  We went through a few mining areas.  Was odd to see this little 'shop' at a major intersection near the Highway.
The machinery was taken out the vehicles window.
The long train carrying ore, saw a lot of these coming and going as we travelled in this area.