Mount Cuthbert Township and Smelter

Mount Cuthbert Township and smelter, set in the scenic Six Mile Creek Valley, captures impressions of North Queensland’s extensive early mining industry and associated settlement. Due to the town’s remote location, archaeological values are well preserved, with the smelter - the largest and last early phase smelter in the Cloncurry district (1916-20) – retaining the most structural evidence. The smelter was designed by distinguished metallurgist W.H. Corbould, as were its unique 1917 blast furnace and retainers. The physical layout of Mount Cuthbert, including the smelter, slag dump, railway linkages and the township is very distinctive with the amount and diversity of tangible features creating an authentic atmosphere. During its peak, Mount Cuthbert Township had two hotels, a factory, numerous stores, a hospital and a police station. By 1907, the Mount Cuthbert Company had acquired mines in Mount Cuthbert, Mighty Atom, Orphan, Little Wonder and Kalkadoon; the latter being the earliest and most productive. In 1925, Mount Elliot Company purchased the mine and plant and Mount Cuthbert became a ghost town. Today, Mount Cuthbert is part of the Copper Fields Heritage Trail and includes 60 building remains and stone footings, as well as a commercial area.