Queensland Day, test your knowledge

Today, June 6 marks 163 years since Queensland separated from New South Wales. It’s Queensland Day, a chance to celebrate who we are.

Commemorated annually, Queensland Day is a celebration of culture and heritage, and an opportunity to reflect on what Queensland means to you and what makes you proud to be a Queenslander - the people, places, opportunities or lifestyle.

And it’s a good omen for the first State of Origin game, also happening this week – on Wednesday night. Go the Maroons!!

Did you know?

How much do you know about the place you call home? Test yourself against these fun facts …

• Queensland is the second largest state in Australia, in land size, behind Western Australia. It is almost five times the size of Japan
• If Queensland was its own country, it would rank 18th largest in size in the world
• Banjo Patterson’s classic poem Waltzing Matilda was first sung publicly at the North Gregory Hotel, Winton, in April 1895
• Queensland was the first state to introduce free primary education in Australia
• Cane toads were introduced to control pests on sugar cane crops and are now considered a pest themselves
• Brisbane was the first place in the world to have an ambulance service manned by paid staff. Formed in 1892, services were originally provided by unpaid volunteers
• The five emblems for Queensland in the following categories are: Animal – koala; Aquatic – clown fish; Floral – Cooktown Orchid; Gem – sapphire; Bird – Brolga
• The Story Bridge is named after John Douglas Story
• The first Indigenous person to elected to Federal Parliament as a Senator for Queensland was Neville Bonner
• These films were shot in Queensland – Elvis, Inspector Gadget, Scooby Doo and Thor: Ragnarok. Can you think of any others?
• Queensland’s population in 2022 is more than 5.1 million
• Women first voted in a Queensland election in 1907
• Queensland is home to the Big Bull, Big Mango and Big Pineapple