Alpha - QLD

Alpha was initially established as a temporary terminus during construction of the Central Western railway line. The railway, which was being built westwards from Rockhampton, was opened to Alpha on 22 September 1884. The construction camp continued moving west, but a township remained at the former terminus. Until June 1990, Queensland Rail maintained a locomotive depot in the town.

Alpha has a tourism information centre, golf course, art gallery, show ground, parks, swimming pool, tennis courts, museum, hardware store, newsagents, bank, pub, grocery store, cafe, post office, BP, Caltex, craft shop, hairdresser, pharmacy, hospital, police station and fire station.

The region is famous for its petrified wood and you can see firsthand the sculpture by Cedar Creek artist Antone Bruinsma. It is a representation of a boulder that has been opened to reveal its treasures and mysteries with the Fossilised Forest Sculpture in the main street. The exterior of the sculpture has interesting forms, carvings and stone attachments to reflect the history of the prehistoric area in which petrified wood formed.

There are also 27 murals in the town, painted by local resident artists and beautifully pay tribute to the pioneers of the bush and the history of the district.

On 29 May 2012 the first mine proposed to be developed in the Galilee Basin, known as the Alpha Coal Project, was approved by the Government of Queensland.Waratah Coal is planning on building a new mine close to the town called the China First Coal Project. This mine is to be built on the Bimblebox nature refuge which is home to the endangered black-throated finch. A counter-view is that Bimblebox is a privately-owned former grazing property, now unmanaged and run wild, growing and spreading various noxious weeds. The debate continues.

As of this writing (June 2020), no holes have yet been dug.