Central West Queensland's predominantly pastoral sector experienced considerable hardship in the decade to 1996 as the consequence of drought and low commodity prices. The social and economic consequences were both large and spatially diverse. Those often remoter shires, characterised by few people and services, experienced sharp decline on both dimensions. In contrast, some of the larger and more accessible towns managed to stabilise or even increase both population and services, assisted by the development of the tourism sector. This, in turn, reflects the region's unique geographical character, features of which include strong historical associations, harsh and seasonably variable climate, vast distances, and sparse populations. Unsurprisingly, the tourist industry has been developed by small-scale local entrepreneurs, focuses on distinct market segments-especially the elderly and adventurous, and is highly seasonal.
