Chillagoe, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chillagoe Queensland
Chillagoe Location in Queensland
Population	251 (2016 census locality)
• Density	0.11379/km2 (0.2947/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4871
Area	2,205.8 km2 (851.7 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	1,834 km (1,140 mi) NW of Brisbane 205 km (127 mi) W of Cairns 140 km (87 mi) W of Mareeba
LGA(s)	Shire of Mareeba
State electorate(s)	Cook
Federal Division(s)	Kennedy
Localities around Chillagoe: Nychum Mount Mulligan Thornborough Rookwood Chillagoe Dimbulah Crystalbrook Almaden Petford

Chillagoe is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census the locality of Chillagoe had a population of 251 people.

It was once a thriving mining town for a range of minerals, but is now reduced to a small zinc mine and some marble quarries.

Just out of town is the Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park containing limestone caves. There are between 600 and 1,000 caves in the Chillagoe-Mungana area. The caves, the spectacular karst landscape and the mining and smelting history are the main tourist attractions to the region.

It has been stated by leading geologist Professor Ian Plimer that the Chillagoe region has the most diverse geology in the world.

History

Chillagoe was named by William Atherton in 1888. The name is taken from the refrain of a sea shanty: "Hikey, Tikey, Psyche, Crikey, Chillagoe, Walabadorie". James Mulligan had explored the area in 1873 and Atherton backed up his reports of rich copper outcrops in the area. Mining pioneer John Moffat sent prospectors to the field in 1888 and quickly monopolised the field. A receiving office opened in 1891 (with W. Atherton as Receiving Office Keeper) but closed in 1893. A post office opened in 1900 with F. Donner as the storekeeper and postmaster. The Chillagoe Railway and Mining Company's line opened from Mareeba in 1901 and a Town Reserve was proclaimed 27 October 1910.

A horse and carriage at Tower Rock in 1897

Chillagoe is sometimes remembered for its involvement in the Mungana affair, a mining scandal which brought down the government. In 1919, after fluctuating fortunes and closures, ownership of the smelter was transferred to the Queensland Government. This acquisition by the Labor Government brought allegations of political corruption which persisted for many years. Closures plagued the smelter again in the late 1920s. When the Australian Labor Party lost power in 1929, the new government ordered a Royal Commission into the incident. The political careers of two former Queensland Premiers, 'Red' Ted Theodore and William McCormack, were ruined by the Commission’s report. Read the famous book by Frank Hardy: "Power without Glory".

At the 2006 census, Chillagoe had a population of 227.

Heritage listings

Limestone boulders, Chillagoe

Chillagoe has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Chillagoe smelters
• Mungana Archaeological Area

Attractions

Woothakata is a property on beautiful Chillagoe creek named after the early Tableland shire which Chillagoe was a part of. Woothakata is an Aboriginal word which describes the way Aborigines traveled to Ngarrabullgan/Mount Mulligan, an important meeting place.

The heritage-listed Chillagoe smelters, the cemetery and the many old mines attract history buffs to the area.

Education

Chillagoe State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Cathedral Street (17°09′19″S 144°31′16″E / 17.1553°S 144.5211°E / -17.1553; 144.5211 (Chillagoe State School)). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 21 students with 2 teachers and 6 non-teaching staff (2 full-time equivalent).

There are no nearby secondary schools. Distance education or boarding schools are the options.

Transport

Chillagoe Airport is north of the town (17°08′14″S 144°31′43″E / 17.1373°S 144.5287°E / -17.1373; 144.5287 (Chillagoe Airport)).

Chillagoe was once the terminus of the Mareeba-to-Chillagoe railway line. That line has closed, leaving the following abandoned stations:

• Griffiths Siding railway siding (17°07′29″S 144°24′46″E / 17.1246°S 144.4129°E / -17.1246; 144.4129 (Griffiths Siding railway siding point)).
• Mungana railway station (17°06′14″S 144°23′26″E / 17.1038°S 144.3905°E / -17.1038; 144.3905 (Mungana railway station)).
• Chillagoe railway station (17°08′59″S 144°31′35″E / 17.1498°S 144.5265°E / -17.1498; 144.5265 (Chillagoe railway station)).
• Fluorspar railway station (17°15′29″S 144°36′54″E / 17.2580°S 144.6151°E / -17.2580; 144.6151 (Fluorspar railway station)).