UNIQUE EXPERIENCES CHARTERS TOWERS

Ancient lava flows, fossilised limestone and the Burdekin River, the largest river in Queensland, are features of this park in the Charters Towers area. Mount Keelbottom rises 130 metres above the surrounding plain and part of the old Dalrymple township site can be found in the park. It was one of the first inland settlements in northern Australia and has links with the discovery of gold in the area in the mid-1800s. Parts of the township are privately owned. Please respect private property signs. In the dry season, bush camp along the sandy edges of the Burdekin River. Explore the undeveloped walking trails that follow the river and Fletcher Creek, and discover basalt flows and a peaceful riverside setting. Longer hikes to Mount Keelbottom should only be undertaken by well-equipped and experienced walkers. Watch waterbirds from the river's edge. Ride trail-bikes and mountain bikes on the internal roads through the park.

Witness the majestic and historic Texas Longhorns on a horse drawn wagon ride or Safari - an experience like no other. Take a traditional horse drawn wagon ride or Ranger Safari and a trip back in time, back to the 'Old West' to the time of the legendary Texas Longhorns. Situated just 10 kilometres from Charters Towers, North Queensland, is Leahton Park, home to the largest purebred herd of Texas Longhorns in Australia. These cattle are direct descendants of the millions of Longhorns that walked in the great trail herds out of Texas in the late 1800s. It is also home to the world famous Texas Longhorn steer - JR. JR was born and raised at Leahton Park and was certified by Guinness World Records to have the longest horns measured tip to tip, of all cattle in the world. His horns now exceed 9 feet 3 inches or 2.82 metres. Listen to the yarns and learn the history of this iconic and magnificent breed of cattle while enjoying the canvas covered wagon ride in the bush on the one and only experience of its kind. Kangaroos, water buffaloes, deer and native Aussie wildlife are all at Leahton Park.

The Pioneer Cemetery contains the graves of those buried from 1872 - 1895 and gives insight into the hardships these pioneers faced during the goldfield days. Mining accidents, fires, murders, child birth and general hardship are some of the reasons that there are more than 5,000 people buried in the early cemetery. Cemetery records are available for viewing at the Charters Towers Visitor Information Centre.

Experience the thrill of livestock going under the hammer. Cattle Sales are held every Wednesday at the Dalrymple Sales Yards. Beef is produced on 250 commercial properties running around 600,000 head of cattle between them, making the Charters Towers Regional Council region the biggest cattle producing local Government area in Australia. Dalrymple Sales Yards sell over 100,000 head per annum of store and prime cattle and hosts North Queensland's premier bull and horse sales. The significance of the selling centre and the quality of the animals marketed is highlighted by the centre recently breaking an auction record price for a bull of AUD145,000.

This National Trust museum houses a large collection of photographs, equipment and other memorabilia that reflects Charters Towers' golden and military past. Their friendly volunteers are only too willing to share their special stories and demonstrate some of the equipment that is housed in the historic Burns Philp building, built in 1888. Ask for a demonstration of the flying fox (the Lampson Aerial Cash System from the old Pollards building). There are many other items too that will pull you into the drama and excitement that was Charters Towers 130 odd years ago. History buffs and collectors can put themselves to the test with the Museum's display of objects that so far have defied efforts to identify or date and the volunteers are delighted to show them off. Charters Towers has a proud military history from the Boer to Vietnam wars, housed in the Charles Wallace Military display. One of the more poignant pieces from World War I is a pair of half knitted socks, abandoned when a mum received news that her son had been killed, they are displayed exactly as she left them 100 years ago. Allow half an hour at least.

The Stock Exchange Arcade was designed by Sydney architect Mark Day and built by Sandbrook Brothers of Sydney in 1888. This prestigious shop and office arcade was built for local civic leader and businessman Alexander Malcolm. Known then as the Royal Arcade, it housed the Charters Towers Stock Exchange from 1890. It was one of Australia's first few regional stock exchanges and was needed to raise capital for the deep reef mines throughout the region. The Stock Exchange was linked into the world via telegraph, with three calls a day, six days a week. At one time the price of gold was set in the very Arcade, an indication of the importance of the Charters Towers' economy at the time. The stockbrokers offices have now been converted into shops. Don't miss the "Calling of the Card," a ghostly reminder of Charters Towers' golden days when just a touch of greed echoed in these stately walls. The Assay Mining Museum is located at the back of the Arcade and contains articles used in the assaying of gold in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There are also interesting dioramas of gold mines and workings from this era.

The Miner's Cottage in Charters Towers is a restored workers' cottage built in the late 1800s. The building houses a fascinating collection of goldfields memorabilia which showcases the wonderful history of Charters Towers. It is much more than a museum full of relics! Experienced guides conduct tours through the rooms, explaining the various episodes of the city's development from the early discoveries of gold through to the present day mining activity under the streets. The cottage especially caters for groups and school excursions. During the months of April to October, many hundreds of school age children visit The Miner's Cottage to learn about the history and to 'pan for real alluvial gold'. The owner, Mr Alan Silverwood, is an experienced prospector and is always willing to pass on some tips on where to find gold. The Miner's Cottage has become a 'must see' attraction in the town.

Drop into the Civic Club, originally known as the Londoner's Club, (a gentlemen's club) and enjoy a drink with a local, soak up the atmosphere of this amazing historic building and have a round of billiards on one of the two 100 year old tables. Don't forget to make your booking for their famous Friday night barbecue.

Queenslander's loved their soldier statue, known as the 'Digger', symbolising innocence, youth, heroism, courage and mateship. When Charters Towers' war memorial was refurbished and rededicated on 11 November 2005, the cenotaph included a solemn soldier, head bowed and rifle pointing downwards. It was originally unveiled to honour those who fought in WWI and WWII, in November 1955. At that time it included an electric light in the shape of a flame, burning continually atop the nine metre tall stone pillar. Memorials were rare in Australia before WWI. The outpouring of grief at the loss of 60,000 young Australian men, buried where they fell in Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa, created a wave of monuments, from soldier statues to memorial parks, rolls of honour to empty tomb-like pavilions. The roll of honour provides an insight into local patriotism of the day, all who enlisted were volunteers willing to fight for the British Empire.

Charters Towers Cemetery was established in 1895. It is the resting place for a number of interesting local characters including Jupiter Mosman who, as local lore has it, was one of the party that discovered gold at Charters Towers; Doctor Leonard Redmond who discovered Australian dengue fever; Fredrick Pfeiffer owner of the rich Day Dawn PC Mine and James Knenniff who was the last bushranger in Queensland. The Charters Towers Visitor Information Centre has the cemetery records for both the Pioneer and Charters Towers cemeteries. Or if it is family history you are seeking, why not contact the Charters Towers and Dalrymple Archives Group or the Charters Towers Family History Association Incorporated. These groups aim to promote and preserve research into local and family history for the benefit of the community.