Moranbah Qld 4744 (Pop 7 500)

Moranbah is a thriving modern mining town in the Mackay hinterland 1 047 km n-w of Brisbane. Although the area was first settled in 1850s by early pastoralists, Moranbah was only established in 1969 to support and service the vast open-cut coal mines that surround the town. The coal is then railed to Mackay on the coast (190 km n-e). May Day Union Parade & Fireworks (May).

Accommodation: Moranbah has a motel, hotel & a couple of caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: Library, town square. Tel (07) 4941 7221.