Exploring the Queensland Outback
The route from Charters Towers in Central Queensland to Hughenden, and then on to Cloncurry was built as a Cobb & Co. coach route. Now the Flinders Highway (A6), it forms part of the route from Townsville to Mt Isa.
Charters Towers
Charters Towers started life as a gold town in 1871 after the discovery of the mineral was found by a chance discovery by an Aboriginal boy, named Jupiter. Like other gold rushes in Australia, people all over the world flocked there to seek their fortune.
It grew quickly to become Queensland’s second largest city, by 1885, there were some 150 mines in the surrounding area and over 100 hotels in town, serving a population of over 30,000 people.
There are numerous buildings in town that were built from this gold wealth, many have been restored to their fomer glory, including the Stock Exchange Arcade. Sixty of them are heritage listed.
Charters Towers Visitors Information Phone +061 7 4761 5533, location: 74 Mosman Street.
Hughenden
Established on the Flinders River, the area where Hughenden sits is rich in dinosaur fossils, the first Australian complete skeleton of a dinosaur was found here. Not in Canberra, as some may tell you.
At the Flinders Discovery Centre located in Hughenden, a full size replica of the Muttaburrasaurus Langdoni can be seen. Weighing up to 15 tons, this 12 metres long, 2.5 metres high dinosaur has a distinctive bony nose.
National Parks
Both the Porcupine Gorge National Park and the White Mountains NP are within easy reach. At Chudleigh Park Gemfields, you can fossick for gems but a license is required. Contact the Flinders Discovery Centre for more information: Phone +061 7 4741 1021.
See more about Queensland Outback.
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