Emerald
Situated on the Nogosa River in Gayori Country, Emerald lies approximately 240 kilometres west of Rockhampton and serves as the major service centre for the Central Highlands Region's agricultural and mining industries.
The town takes its name from pastoralist Peter Fitzallan Macdonald's Emerald Downs, established around 1860, and may refer to the gemstone — the Central Queensland gemfields lie close to the town — or the area's lush green pastures in the area.
Emerald status as a regional hub dates back to its establishment as the terminus of the Central Western railway line in 1879. While the line subsequently extended further west, branch lines to Clermont and Springsure
Since the 1980s, the town's development has accelerated, primarily due to its proximity to the Bowen Basin coalfields.
Sources:
Google Maps (Location, directions and distances — my measurements)
Queensland Places: Emerald:
Wikipedia: Emerald, Queensland: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald,_Queensland
