Rockhampton people are welcome at a free talk about efforts from the 1870s to 1940s to turn the Fitzroy River into a waterway for world-class shipping.

The talk entitled 'Engineering the Fitzroy' will be given by CQU history lecturer Dr Barbara Webster, from 2.30pm this Saturday (Oct 6) at Borough Chambers, Stapleton Park, North Rockhampton.

It will be part of the Rockhampton & District Historical Society meeting at that time.

"The talk is about efforts which were finally given up in the1960s to dredge the river and to build miles of stone walls to 'train' the river," Dr Webster said.

"The desire was to make Rockhampton a leading deepwater port on the eastern Australian seaboard. Of course it was doomed to failure from the outset but that didn't deter business people or engineers.

"The wharves are now gone and the river is now very silted up but many of the walls remain and their origins are a puzzle to many locals who seem to think they were build by either convicts, Islander labourers or American soldiers in WWII!"

Attendees can enjoy afternoon tea after the talk and have a look over the museum exhibits.