Named by explorers, founded on mining
Cloncurry sits on the junction of the Matilda Highway and Overlander’s Way. It is nestled on the banks of the Cloncurry River, named when the explorers Burke and Wills travelled through the district in 1861 during their expedition to the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Cloncurry might owe its name to Robert O’Hara Burke, but it probably owes its existence to a man who was looking for grazing land but found copper instead. It was May 1867 when Ernest Henry discovered copper. He became the founder of the town and the vast mineral wealth of the district. He named the mine the Great Australia, but when the town was surveyed in 1876 it was called Cloncurry after Cloncurry River, which Burke had named for his cousin, Lady Elizabeth Cloncurry of County Galway in Ireland. As grazing brought Ernest Henry to the area and mining kept him here, it seems fitting that the region still derives its main income from mining and pastoral industries.
Cloncurry, affectionately known as ‘The Curry,’ is the transport hub of the northwest. Once, the transport consisted of horses, bullocks and camels, then coaches, railways, trucks, planes and helicopters. Today, it is the most important transportation centre in western Queensland because of its railhead, container depot and road train terminal.
Cloncurry has been the focal point for many of Australia’s greatest innovations. The town was involved with the beginnings of Australia’s famous national airline, and the original Qantas hangar is still in use at the aerodrome, where a sign proclaiming the company’s original name, ‘Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service’, is still displayed above the hangar door. The aerodrome was also used by early planes coming from overseas and contestants in the great air races of 1919 and 1934. During World War II, Cloncurry was the site of a major United States Air Base.
Cloncurry’s interesting history is evident in its cemeteries. The old Chinese Cemetery, at the junction of Copper Mine Creek and the Anabranch, is a reminder of the many Chinese who worked in Cloncurry during the early gold mining years. The Afghan Cemetery is in one corner of the Cloncurry Cemetery and holds the graves of many Afghan camel train drivers. All the graves face towards Mecca and some date back to the late 1890s. The Cloncurry Cemetery itself (on Sir Hudson Fysh Drive) is a tacit reminder of the harshness of the early days.
Mt Leviathan, locally known as Black Mountain, is one of Cloncurry’s landmarks. Located at its base is the picturesque Chinaman Creek Dam and recreational area. It’s situated about 4km west of Cloncurry and is an ideal picnic, fishing and birdwatching spot.
An attraction in its own right as well as being the information centre for the town is the Cloncurry/Mary Kathleen Memorial Park. Situated at the eastern entrance of Cloncurry, the park has tourist information, fossickers licences, maps and souvenirs at the kiosk and information centre – which actually has a story of its own to tell.
The building was originally a police station at Oona and then at Dobbyn, both old mining towns during the early 1900s. It was moved again to do service at the Mary Kathleen township. After the town closed (when the Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine was shut down), the building once again set off on a journey - to Cloncurry.
Also moved to the park is the old Mary K town office building, which now houses memorabilia from the Mary K mine and township - plus local history and photographs. The star exhibit is Robert O’Hara Burke’s water bottle, kept in the ‘explorers’ corner’. There’s also a medal, photographs and, outside, a tree stump blazed in 1861. Browse around the rock and mineral display. Another section shows Aboriginal memorabilia and the breastplate once worn by George King. An outdoor museum is of interest. See the old rail ambulance. The ambulance was commissioned in 1956, and despite not being used for more than 30 years it’s still in working order. Also see steam engines, a traction engine, farm machinery and mining equipment. While you’re there, have a barbecue!
The park is open on weekdays from 8.00am to 4.30pm from February to December and on weekends from 9.00am to 3.00pm from May to the end of September.
Enquire about taking a tour from the park to the Ernest Henry Mine. Bookings must be made by the day before the tour. Also ask at Mary K about watching the Portrait of Cloncurry video while you’re in town.
On the fourth Sunday of every month from May to October, the park is the venue for the MK Park Markets. Once a month (on a Saturday) from March to December, the Cloncurry Rotary Markets are held at the Florence Clarke Park.
