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The town of Emerald is a rural locality situated in the Australian state of Queensland. The area is the headquarters for the local government area of the Central Highlands Region. The surrounding localities of Emerald include Fork Lagoons, Wyuna, Comet, Anakie Siding, and Gindie.

The town lies on the Nogoa River, a tributary of the Fitzroy River.

Emerald recorded an urban population of 14,119 as of June 2018. It is located about 270 km from the coast of the Coral Sea. Besides, Emerald is about 10 kilometres from the Tropic of Capricorn towards the south. Emerald railway station is a heritage-listed site in the town. Some of the major attractions of Emerald include The Gemfields, the Fairbairn Dam, and the Botanic Gardens.

Facilities in Emerald Emerald is home to several government-funded primary and secondary schools, Catholic primary and secondary schools, private primary and secondary schools, and the Central Queensland University campus.

Famous Destinations Around Emerald

Botanic Gardens Here, you can have a pleasant walk through the gardens and catch sight of some gorgeous bird varieties. You can even have lunch by the riverside as plenty of tables, and seating arrangements are made.

Fairbairn Dam The area has a beauty of its own, with plenty of rain getting stored in the catchment area and offering a captivating experience of bird watching. Covering an area of 150 square km, the Fairbairn Dam is one of the largest artificial lakes in Australia. Interestingly, the lake contains three times more water than the famous Sydney Harbour, when full. The lake is beneficial for local water sports and the surrounding industries, such as the cotton industry that has flourished in the region due to extensive water supply from the Fairbairn Dam.

Sunflower Painting This landmark is well-known for the largest sunflower painting in the world by Van Gogh. It lies in Morton Park, Emerald and is a great attraction. The image is 25 metres high, and around 13.6 tonnes of steel have been utilised to construct it.

History of Emerald The Gayiri people are the traditional owners of Emerald. They used to occupy the area for thousands of years before the European settlement, which started in the nineteenth century.