The town of Mount Isa is built right
on the door step of the Mount Isa Mine.
Have you thought about going underground?
Tourists have two opportunities to go underground in Mount Isa.
As retirees enjoying travel around Australia, we were keen to explore outback Queensland, and in particular Mount Isa.
About Mount Isa
Mount Isa is nestled in the ochre – red Selwyn Ranges. It is in the centre of the gulf country, in North Western Queensland.
Mount Isa is remote. Brisbane is 1830 kilometres and Townsville is 904 kilometres away. Port Moresby (New Guinea) at 1,500 kilometres, is closer than Brisbane.
Mount Isa is the largest city in Queenland’s North West. It has a population of approximately 22,000. As one local put it, the population can fluctuate, depending on what is happening in the mining industry.
Mount Isa is hot and dry. The average annual rainfall is 464 mls. Locals were telling us they were having 43 – 45 degrees in January. Perhaps 2017 has been a hot year, as the mean average temperature is 36 degrees in January. Having said all that, it was 33 – 34 degrees when we were visiting in early April 2017.
We were surprised to find Mount Isa to be fairly multi cultural, far more so than other outback towns we have visited in Queensland.
We also found the town to have a good range of shopping, in comparison to other outback towns in Queensland.
The city of Mount Isa developed because of the vast mineral deposits of lead, silver, copper and zinc. Mount Isa Mines is one of the biggest mining operations in Australia. The mine employs more than 3,000 employees and contractors.
Mount Isa is also well known for it’s rodeo. In 2016 the Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo won the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.
If you are on a road trip to the Northern Territory, Mount Isa is the last Queensland city. We stocked up on all supplies before travelling on to the Northern Territory.
Selwyn Range
As retirees enjoying travel in outback Queensland, the road trip between Cloncurry to Mount Isa was a highlight. For nearly the whole trip we travelled along the Selwyn Range. The range is also known as the Isa Highlands.
The views were stunning. As Greg drove, I couldn’t help taking photos out the window.
The Selwyn Range is rugged hills, heavy with red ochre rocks. The colours and shapes are beautiful. As we went around bends we were constantly telling each other to look this way or that.
The landscape was dry, particularly on the rocky outcrops.
This is a view from where we free camped. The view was beautiful. The colour sometimes look purple, even during the day. At other times, we were struck by the contrasting green, red / brown and the brilliant blue sky.
Mount Isa Lookout
A visit to the Mount Isa Lookout was one of the first things we did when we arrived. The lookout overlooks the city and the mine. Going to the look out helped us appreciate the size of both the city and the mine. Plus it is the perfect place to take photos of Mount Isa.
As you can see in the photos, the Selwyn Range surrounds Mount Isa.
Underground Hospital and Museum
We enjoyed a guided tour of the Underground Hospital and Museum.
The Underground Hospital was built in 1942. It was built on the grounds of the Mount Isa Hospital.
Following Darwin being bombed, and the Second World War escalating in the Pacific, people in the local area were concerned they may come under threat. People considered the mine a resource of value to the Japanese . Given the drain on military resources at the time, people thought they would have very little military backup in the North of Outback Australia.
A local doctor approached the Mount Isa Mine and asked for an underground hospital to be built. The doctor wanted a safe place to treat critically ill patients, to do operations, and to delivery babies; if the community should come under attack. It was fully equipped to provide the services mentioned above.
Off duty miners built the underground hospital.
Fortunately, the underground hospital was never used for the purpose it was built.
In the photo below, you can see the sterilising equipment. An operating table sat around the corner, behind the bunks.
It was interesting seeing the equipment and nursing uniforms on display. Some items bought back memories from my early nursing career. I saw a white “Neat and Trim” uniform, exactly the same as I wore when I was a young Registered Nurse. And I’m standing in a museum! But, yes, it was a long time ago that I wore that “Neat and Trim” uniform. The uniform is a definite reminder I am from the baby boomer generation.
Our tour guide said nurses were the only ones to ever utilise the underground Hospital. After completing a night duty shift, nurses would come and sleep in the bunks. It was much cooler underground. Back in the 1940s air conditioning wouldn’t have been available. I couldn’t imagine trying to sleep through the extreme heat of the day.
The underground hospital was eventually closed and fell into disrepair. There were some attempts to re – open it. But many in the town forgot about the underground hospital’s existence. It was reopened in 2001, after completion of restoration work. These days the Underground Hospital is a tourist attraction.
We also enjoyed inspecting the adjacent Beth Anderson Museum, which is full of medical / hospital memorabilia.
Tent House
The Tent House below was built in 1930 and is a Queensland heritage listed building. It is the last example of a tent house in Mount Isa. It was relocated to be on the same grounds as the Underground Hospital and Museum.
Originally, many railway and construction workers lived in tents. Later, tents were converted into tent houses, with an iron roof added above the tent roof.
Hard Times Mine Underground Tour
Greg visited Mount Isa when he was a boy. He then did a tour of the working Mount Isa Mine. These tours were ceased many years ago. In more recent years, the local mayor approached the Mount Isa Mines and requested a mine be built for tourism. The mine assisted in creating an exact replica of a working mine.
I was keen to go on the Hard Times Mine Underground Tour. Greg said he wasn’t interested in visiting a fake mine. So I went alone and I thoroughly enjoy the tour.
I’m pictured below all dressed up for the tour. I needed gum boots and safety light (on helmet) and I was ready to go.
I went on a 3 hour underground tour. While the mine was made for tourism, we went down 1.9 kilometres into a 1.2 kilometre replica mine.
My guide was a former miner, and very knowledgeable about mines and the mining industry. We were shown mining equipment that has been used in the mine over the years. So, the mine is in fact a museum of sorts.
Various types of mining equipment was demonstrated. Whenever the guide would start the equipment we were required to use ear plugs. Even then, it was very noisy.We went to a crib room and enjoyed “smoko”, and were given a ride on the back of a mining truck.
I came away with some appreciation of how difficult a miners job is.
A current Mount Isa miner was on the tour with his family. The miner said it was just like being in a real mine, excepting there was no dust or noise.
Mount Isa is not a place we would consider living. It is way too remote for us. But, as a tourist destination, we recommend Mount Isa. And if you are on a road trip into the Northern Territory, then Mount Isa is a must.
Travel safely
Cheers from Estelle and Greg – Retirees Enjoying Travel