Charters Towers

Friday 9th & Saturday 10th September 2011: We wanted to see the historic town of Charters Towers (130klms) south west of Townsville, so a slight diversion we travelled to this very charming town with many magnificient heritage buildings. We camped along the riverbank by the Burdekin River Railway Bridge at Macrossan Park (20 klms east of Charters Towers). Charters Towers is known affectionately as 'The World'. From Towers Hill we took in great views of the town. Towers Hill was a significent allied military base in WW11 - there are some 30 concrete bunkers dotted throughout the surrounding hills still visible today.
Charters Towers in its heyday after a chance discovery of gold in 1872 by an Aboriginal horse boy became Queenslands second largest city and had one of the very first regional Stock Exchanges. Today the pace is a little less hectic!

Charters Towers from Towers Hill
Sunset over our camp on the Burdekin River

Info Board at Towers Hill -

Double click on photo to enlarge and read

Burdekin River Railway Bridge

There are two bridges - old and a newer one -

the bridge on the right is the older unused one

Guess who!!!!

The tower of the old telegraph office - today the post office

The Burkedin River with campers on the left bank

Again - the post office

City Hall

A view from the back of the Stock Exchange Arcade

The Australian Bank of Commerce

The Stock Exchange Arcade