It is rectangular apart from the area excised for the Rockhampton railway station which interrupts the boundary on South Street.

[4] On 23 September 1874, the foundation stone was laid for a new Congregational church by the Reverend Edward Griffith of Brisbane.

[5] In 1863, Father Charles Murlay and Miss Bridget Mary Ennis opened a Catholic school for girls and infants in Alma Street.

[6] On Sunday 17 June 1908, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Rockhampton, James Duhig, opened St Patrick's new school on the corner of Derby Street and Alma Street (approx 23°22′59″S 150°30′49″E / 23.3830°S 150.5137°E / -23.3830; 150.5137 (St Patrick's School (former))).

[11] In May 1864, architect Joseph Douglass called for tenders to erect a Wesleyan Methodist church made from wood.

[17] The new church was opened on Sunday 24 July 1881 by Reverend George Woolnough, President of the Wesleyan Conference.

[21][22] On Saturday 13 October 1906, a stump-capping ceremony was held for the new Rockhampton Baptist Tabernacle at a different location in Denison Street.

[28] In 1977, a new church was built on the same site but facing Fitzroy Street (23°22′48″S 150°30′26″E / 23.3800°S 150.5072°E / -23.3800; 150.5072 (Rockhampton Baptist Tabernacle (former))).

[41] In 2019, construction commenced on the new Rockhampton Museum of Art next to Customs House in Quay Street.

East Street had always been the traditional retail hub of the city since European settlement, spanning two city blocks and consists of a variety of retail outlets, including food, fashion, shoes, homewares, chemists and banks.

However, with the lack of an anchor tenant and ongoing issues surrounding the availability of parking, the mall has struggled to compete against the larger air-conditioned shopping centres which were built throughout other parts of the city during the 1980s and 1990s, such as Stockland Rockhampton, which house supermarkets, department stores and national retail chains.

Other contributing factors to the mixed success of the East Street area includes the high cost of rent, mining downturns, droughts and cyclones.

One of Rockhampton City's most recognisable features is the Fitzroy Riverbank and a well-known strip of heritage-listed buildings in Quay Street, mostly built in the late 19th century, including Customs House.

Controversy arose over the rapid deterioration of the pavers laid in Quay Street, not long after the opening of the redevelopment.

[54][55] Rockhampton City is home to many regional offices of many private companies as well as various government organisations, who use the suburb as a hub for Central Queensland.

This includes Rockhampton Regional Council which administer local government services from City Hall in Bolsover Street.

Locally based state and federal politicians also have offices located throughout the Rockhampton CBD.

ABC Capricornia, 4RO and Triple M all broadcast their local programs from studios located either in Quay Street or Victoria Parade.

[63][64] The Rocky River Run was relocated to the riverside precinct in 2017 after having been held in Wandal since its inception in 2008.