One of the largest towns in the Central Highlands Region of Queensland, Emerald is situated inland, 300km from the coast.
Although the Central Highlands claims to produce the most sapphire in the Southern Hemisphere, Emerald was named after the lush plains of 'Emerald Hill', an early settlement for prisoners. Today, Emerald's primary industry is farming cotton, citrus fruits and mining.
Back in 1879, Emerald was connected by the development of the western railway, and fast became a pioneer for the Central Highlands. Emerald grew quickly between the 1980s and 1990s for coal mining in the Bowen Basin, Australia's largest coal deposit.
What once was one of the leading sunflower producers of Australia, it's understandable that Emerald houses the world's biggest Van Gogh sunflower painting. At 25 metres high and weighing around 13.6 tonnes, it's a spectacular sight. The world masterpiece is located in Morton Park.
