Rockhampton is one of Queensland's oldest cities, established in 1855.Rockhampton was named by Queensland's first Land Commissioner, Mr W. Wiseman, who was supposedly inspired by the rocks in the river flowing through the town. During the late 1800s, several nearby gold discoveries ensured continued economic growth of the region, and of Rockhampton itself. Subsequently, as mining, grazing, farming and meat processing industries developed in Central Queensland, Rockhampton thrived as a regional service centre. Rockhampton was finally recognised as a city in 1902, and has continued to grow slowly but steadily ever since. Rockhampton’s current population is around 59,000. http://wikitravel.org/en/Rockhampton