BLACKWATER

town, central Queensland, Australia. It lies along the Capricorn Highway, 100 miles (160 km) west of Rockhampton. The explorer Ludwig Leichhardt noted the presence of coal in the area in 184445; the town was laid out in 1886 and given its name because of the dark colour of the local waterholes, but until 1962 its population remained at about 25. In that year, the first of several seams of coking coal was discovered, and the Utah Development Company commenced mining about 15 miles (24 km) south of the town. Beef cattle are also grazed in the area. Pop. (1981) 5,434.