Rockhampton City, Queensland
Rockhampton City is the central suburb of Rockhampton in the Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. It is informally known as Rockhampton central business district.
Geography
Rockhampton City is a roughly rectangular suburb, bounded by the Fitzroy River to the north-east, North Street to the north-west, Murray Street to the south-west and South Street to the south-east. It is rectangular ahead from the area excised for the Rockhampton railway station which interrupts the boundary on South Street.At the Rockhampton City had a population of 2,442 people.
Services
Rockhampton City is home to many regional offices of many private companies as well as various government organisations, who use the suburb as a hub for Central Queensland. This includes Rockhampton Regional Council which administer local government services from City Hall in Bolsover Street. Locally based state and federal politicians also have offices located throughout the CBD.The regional bases of the Queensland Police Service, the Queensland Ambulance Service and the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service are all based in Rockhampton City.
Many of Central Queensland's media organisations are based in Rockhampton City. ABC Capricornia, 4RO and Triple M all broadcast their local programs from studios located either in Quay Street or Victoria Parade. Local newsrooms for regional television networks, WIN Television, Seven Queensland and Nine are also located in the CBD. The local newspaper office for Rockhampton's daily newspaper, The Morning Bulletin remains in the CBD although it's now located in Bolsover Street after moving out of the heritage-listed Bulletin Building in Quay Street in 2014 after being there since 1927.
East Street
The CBD is home to a traditional shopping strip in East Street often informally referred to as "The Mall" due to the area having previously been a pedestrian mall from 1987 until 2003, known as the City Heart Mall. East Street had always been the traditional retail hub of the city since European settlement, spanning two city blocks and consists of a variety of retail outlets, including food, fashion, shoes, homewares, chemists and banks.The mall underwent a million dollar redevelopment in 2003 as part of the CBD beautification, which included the return of vehicular traffic to the mall.
However, with the lack of an anchor tenant and ongoing issues surrounding the availability of parking, the mall has struggled to compete against the larger air-conditioned shopping centres which were built throughout other parts of the city during the 1980s and 1990s, such as Stockland Rockhampton, which house supermarkets, department stores and national retail chains. This also includes the nearby City Centre Plaza which is anchored by Coles and Target. Other contributing factors to the mixed success of the East Street area includes the high cost of rent, mining downturns, droughts and cyclones.
Heritage-listed buildings along East Street include the former Rockhampton Post Office and the historic Rockhampton Courthouses. From 1909 until 1939, Rockhampton's steam trams were a commonly seen form of public transport in the CBD.
Riverbank
One of Rockhampton City's most recognisable features is the Fitzroy Riverbank and a well-known strip of heritage-listed buildings in Quay Street, mostly built in the late 19th century, including Customs House.A multimillion-dollar Rockhampton Riverbank Revitalisation plan was released in 2015. The newly revitalised riverbank precinct was officially opened in 2018 with a new zero-depth water play area, improved boardwalks and seating areas in an open plaza area named in honour of Rod Laver, a new restaurant which extends out over the river and the newly built Fitzroy Adventure Playground.
Quay Street between William and Fitzroy Street was paved and changed from a two-way thoroughfare to a shared space with one-way traffic. Controversy arose over the rapid deterioration of the pavers laid in Quay Street, not long after the opening of the redevelopment.
Events
Throughout the 2010s, a number of annual events were either established in Rockhampton City or relocated to the area from other parts of the city.The inaugural CBD Christmas Fair was held in East Street in 2013 and has since been held each year, usually around late November or early December. The event has become known for culminating in the lighting of the City Christmas Tree. In 2018, the tree was relocated from the roundabout at the intersection of East and Denham Street to the riverbank where it now usually stands in front of Customs House in Quay Street.
Similarly, the inaugural Rockhampton River Festival, an arts and cultural event, was held in Rockhampton City in 2015, and has since become annual event held each July in the CBD.
In 2019, both the annual Rockhampton Emergency Services Day and the Rockhampton Cultural Festival were located to the CBD after having been held at the Rockhampton Heritage Village for many years.
The Rocky River Run was relocated to the riverside precinct in 2017 after having been held in Wandal since its inception in 2008.
The annual Anzac Day march proceeds through the city and now concludes with a morning service at Rod Laver Plaza, which was previously held at City Hall.
Development
Since 2005, Rockhampton City has seen many major developments with an extensive amount of construction taking place in the area, most notably the building of a number of riverside apartment buildings alongside the Fitzroy River.There's been a number of apartment building constructed in Victoria Parade including the Fitzroy Waterfront Apartments, The Rocks, The Edge, Quest, Southbank on Victoria, Empire, Gallery Apartments, and Skyview.
In 2009, The Edge opened as the tallest building in Central Queensland, being 12 storeys high. In 2014, Empire was topped out at 14 stories being several metres taller than The Edge. The $65 million development includes about 150 rooms, 5 star hotel lobby and reception, 3 ground level restaurants and 2 levels of under ground parking.
In 2012, a new modern building was built on the corner of Fitzroy Street and East Street to house Stanwell Corporation and the National Australia Bank which replaced a dilapidated row of shops in what was known as "Churches Building".
In 2019, construction commenced on the new Rockhampton Museum of Art next to Customs House in Quay Street, which will replace the existing Rockhampton Art Gallery in Victoria Parade.