Australia's first Year of the Outback project completed

The first project to mark Australia's Year of the Outback has been completed by the Queensland Government and officially opened today more than a year before celebrations begin.

Primary Industries and Rural Communities Minister Henry Palaszczuk officially opened the restored Rosebank Homestead and Research Station on 7300 hectares near Longreach today.

"Like the Year of the Outback, the Rosebank project honours the history of rural Australia as well as promote future development and new opportunities," Mr Palaszczuk said.

"Rosebank has very strong historic links with its former owners being relatives of Australia's first Prime Minister Sir Edmund Barton and hosted Princess Alexandria during her visit to Longreach."

"The renovated homestead will be used as a meeting and workshop facility."

"On the property, the Department of Primary Industries' Agency for Food and Fibre Sciences will evaluate aquaculture, meat sheep, farm forestry and native foliage as diversification options for western Queensland producers."

"Work is currently underway evaluating sheep meat breeds, researching fine wool potential and assessing carrying capacity of Mitchell grass country."

The Department of Primary allocated $150,000 to complete the project, which has attracted strong community support with the formation of the Friends of Rosebank.

Mr Palaszczuk first announced the project at the official launch of Year of the Outback in Longreach in November last year.

Last year, the Queensland Government was the first Governnment to endorse a proposal by prominent rural industry representative Bruce Campbell MBE to declare 2002 as Australia's Year of the Outback. The Federal Government and other State governments have since endorsed the proposal.

Media contact: Kirby Anderson (0418) 197 350