Copper smelter - Stockfoto

Three large chimney stacks define the remains of a once significant copper mining project in northern Australia. The Chillagoe Smelter operated in the early 1900s. At this time it was the centre of a thriving mining industry that brought wealth and development to the Chillagoe area in Cape York, Far North Queensland. By June 1901, when the railway was completed, Chillagoe was a flourishing town. The railway enabled equipment for the large, innovative Chillagoe Smelters to become operative by September 1901. Chillagoe Smelter operated until 1943 and in its 40 odd year lifetime treated 1.25 million tons of ore, yielded 60,000 tons of copper and 5 tons of gold. Since 1992 the abandoned Chillagoe smelter has been registered as a Heritage Site in Queensland.