| CLONCURRY - QUEENSLAND - 4824 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Population: 3,800, Latitude: 20.4500 Longitude: 140.3200 Location: 1,775km north west of Brisbane Highway: Flinders Hwy Nearest Major Town: Cloncurry Nearest Airport: Cloncurry Touring Area: Outback |
 |
 Information Centre - Cloncurry - Courtesy of Tourism Queensland | |
 | ||||
|
Cloncurry has an important role in Australia's history, particularly for people of the outback.
It was here in 1928 the first Royal Flying Doctor Base was established. It was also here that
the concept of Australia's national airline began and the original QANTAS hangar can still be
seen at the airport. Founded on copper mining, the first traces were seen by John McKinley on his search for the ill-fated Burke and Wills in 1861, In 1867, pastoralist Ernest Henry traced the first lodes and during World War 1, Cloncurry was part of a copper boom providing the largest supply in Australia. After the war a price slump in copper saw the region turn to agricultutre and grazing, transport and services to the mining industries including gold and uranium. Between Cloncurry and Mt Isa is the abandoned uranium mining town of Mary Kathleen, a major supplier of the mineral until it closed in the 1960s. Some of the buildings, including the Police Station and Town Office are now in Mary Kathleen Memorial Park in McIlwraith St and operate as an historical museum. Displays include minerals and the water bottle used by Robert O'Hara Burke on his expedition. There are three old cemeteries in the town which include the graves of Dame Mary Gilmore, an Afghan Section holding the remains of many cameleers, and a Chinese section where many miners were interred. John Flynn Place is a tribute to the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the Rev John Flynn and features the Alfred Traeger Cultural Centre (inventor of the pedal radio), Fred Mackay Art Gallery (Flynn's offsider), the Alan Vickers Outdoor Theatre and the RFDS base. It was opened and dedicated in 1988 by the Duke and Duchess of York. PLACES OF INTEREST:
INFORMATION CENTRE: Cloncurry Tourist Information Centre Mary Kathleen Park, McIlwraith St. Cloncurry. QLD 4824 Ph: 07 4742 1361 HOW TO GET THERE: By car along the Barkly, Flinders and Landsborough Hwys. Burke Developmental Road south from Normanton | ||||||||
© Copyright Peter W. Wilkins