[citation needed] In May 1770, HMS Endeavour, under the command of James Cook, sailed by the entrance to Gladstone Harbour under the cover of darkness.

Oxley was dismissive of the region, noting the harbour was difficult to enter, the countryside was too dry, and the timber useless for construction purposes.

[citation needed] Nevertheless, in 1847 the British attempted to establish the new colony of North Australia at Port Curtis.

The settlers spent seven weeks on the island before being rescued by the supply ship Thomas Lowry and delivered the intended site of settlement, the region now known as Barney Point.

On 30 January at a proclamation ceremony at Settlement Point on Facing Island, Barney was sworn in as Lieutenant Governor of the (already revoked) colony of North Australia.

[9] By 1853, Francis MacCabe was surveying the site of a new town on the shores of Port Curtis under the protection of several detachments of Native Police.

Maurice O'Connell was appointed government resident the following year, resulting in an influx of free settlers as land became available throughout the region.

[11][16][17] On 2 March 1949, a major cyclone hit Gladstone, resulting in extensive damage to the town.

Gladstone's port facilities were expanded and the city launched into an era of industrial development and economic prosperity.

[42] The western harbour basin has been expanded, primarily to allow increased exports of liquified natural gas (LNG).

Major exports include coal, alumina, aluminium, cement products, sodium cyanide[43] and ammonium nitrate.

[45] Gladstone harbour is within the World Heritage Area of the Great Barrier Reef and has historically supported a thriving seafood industry.

[46] In August 2011, a Fisheries Queensland spokesman said they received reports of fish with milky eyes.

[53] Rosella Park School is a government school for boys and girls aged from five to eighteen years who have moderate to severe intellectual impairments at 20 Park Street (corner of Rosella Street), West Gladstone.

Boyne Island and Tannum Sands have grown in popularity because of their beautiful beaches and relaxed lifestyle.

The Millennium Esplanade is a big attraction where there are lots of shelters, barbecues and walking paths, and long stretches of beach.

The recreation area has free barbecues, swimming, landscaped walking trails, as well as a caravan park.

In the House of Representatives, Gladstone is located within the division of Flynn, a traditionally marginal seat currently held by Liberal National MP Colin Boyce, who was first elected in 2022.

The Dawson Highway originates in Gladstone, and it runs westwards for approximately 400 km (250 mi) to Springsure.

Domestic coal is also railed to the Gladstone Power Station and the Queensland Alumina Limited refinery.

Strategic Airlines briefly offered services in 2011[60] and Virgin Australia commenced flights in October 2011 and now offers up to 6 return flights a day to Brisbane mostly on ATR 72 aircraft with Embraer 190 and Boeing 737 also a regular appearance in the schedule.

4CC has one full-time announcer based in Gladstone to present the station's local breakfast show.

The station broadcasts to Central Queensland on four separate frequencies via three AM transmitters in Gladstone, Biloela and Rockhampton, and an FM translator in Agnes Water on the Discovery Coast.

Hit Central Queensland is Gladstone's local FM commercial radio station, owned by Southern Cross Austereo.

Hot FM has two full-time announcers based in Gladstone to present the station's flagship weekday breakfast program, which is also broadcast to Rockhampton and Emerald.

WIN Television, Seven Queensland, Southern Cross Ten, ABC and SBS stations are all able to be received in Gladstone.