Charters Towers - Qld
Gold, Greed, Ghosts and Grandeur! Charters Towers is situated just 90 minutes south-west of Townsville. 'Charlie’s Trousers', as it’s affectionately known, is a scenic little gold mining city that’s big on history and character.
From a chance discovery of gold in January 1872, Charters Towers soon turned into a bustling metropolis, which in its hayday boasted being the second largest city in Queensland.
So large was Charters Towers to become, that at the height of the gold rush the town included 11 crushing mills, 65 Hotels and one of the very few regional Stock Exchanges in Australia, which still stands proudly at the Gill and Mosman Street intersection.
Heritage City
Today, the pace is a little less hectic, with visitors able to explore the rich heritage of Charters Towers in their own time. From a quick stop-over, to a charming day trip or a leisurely couple of days taking in the sights. Charters Towers offers something for every wanderer of varied interests. Of course your first stop should be the Visitor Information Centre on Mosman Street. This modern addition to the town is staffed with local volunteers who are more than happy to point you towards sights of interest and help with accommodation. Choices available range from B & B’s, hotels, motels and caravan parks.
Outback Life
A little further out of town the surrounding Dalrymple shire has a lot to offer the visitor. The population of approximately 3,500 spans across an area the size of Tasmania. This hive of agricultural activity exposes visitors to the rural side of life in the outback.
Must see and do!
Ghosts of Gold Heritage Trail
Discover the Ghosts of Gold.
World Theatre
Built in 1891, the World Theatre was originally the Australian Bank of Commerce. When Charters Towers was the second largest city in Queensland it was affectionately referred to as The World. This is the reason for the name change.
Charters Towers Museum
This National Trust owns and runs the museum houses. This large collection of photographs, equipment and other memorabilia reflects Charters Towers golden past.
Historic Ambulance Center
This centre dates back to 1903 and was the first ambulance station outside Brisbane, which covered a working area of almost 70,000 sq km.
Pioneer Cemetery
The Pioneer Cemetery contains graves of those buried from 1872-1895 and gives insight into the hardships our pioneers faces during the goldfield days.
