Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In

Off the Beaten Path in Mount Isa

Search:
email to friend | help

Mount Isa Travel Guide

Off the Beaten Path in Mount Isa

Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine - Mount Isa
Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine
by eviltooth
Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Mount Isa attractions, posted by real travelers and locals.
Local Time 10:23 pm Saturday, July 26, 2008
Mount Isa Map
• Mount Isa Hotels

Sponsored Links for Mount Isa

Cheap Australia Flights
Experience the Spirit of Australia when you fly Qantas Airways.

Australia Visa Service
Get a visa for travel to Australia. Easy forms. Rush service available.

Cheap Ticket to Australia
New Zealand, Fiji Sydney, Melbourne Darwin, Auckland, Adelaide and more

Australia Private Tours
Top spots, private guide from $1805 Nat'l Geo Adventure, Top Outfitter.

9 Days in Australia $1999
You Choose 2: SYD+MEL, BNE or CNS. Includes all airfare and hotels!

Mount Isa Off the Beaten PathTips 1 - 2 of 2  
Popular Off the Beaten Path | Miscellaneous Off the Beaten Path Tips | All Tips (2)
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
Mary Kathleen Township
  • Tip Rating:
  • By eviltooth on October 31, 2004
  • Email Me
  • See My Mount Isa Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Road to Mary Kathleen - Mount Isa
    Road to Mary Kathleen
    by eviltooth
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Mary Kathleen was initially surveyed by a mining company to provide accommodation and amenities to the workers of the nearby uranium mine. The uranium deposit was discovered by Clem Walton and Norm McConarchy in 1954 and was named "Mary Kathleen" after McConarchy's wife. The company provided the entire infrastructure including the town, a dam on the nearby Corella River (now known as Clem Walton Park), open-cut mine and treatment plant. The town enjoyed prosperity between 1956 and 1963 until it was placed in mothballs. In 1974, the mine was reopened until 1984, when due to the federal Labour government's "three mines" policy which confined Australia's uranium production to the three sites already being mined: Ranger, Nabarlek and Olympic Dam, Mary Kathleen was closed. The entire town infrastructure, including houses, went to public auction. Today no buildings remain, but the ghost town like atmosphere makes one wonder what this fluorishing community would have been like.

    The access toad into the town is all sealed but is in a bad state of disrepair, beware of some very large potholes and pavement failure areas.

    Leave a Comment


    Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine
  • Tip Rating:
  • By eviltooth on October 31, 2004
  • Email Me
  • See My Mount Isa Page
  • Send to a Friend
  • Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine - Mount Isa
    Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine
    by eviltooth
    Send Photo to a Friend
    Turning left just prior to Mary Kathleen town will bring you to the open-cut mine. The existing bitumen road is in fairly good condition and the climb up to the mine is moderately difficult, with some fair size washouts. You can see the original washplant and staff offices on your right as you climb the range to the mine. Once reaching the top of the track the mine is only a short walk to the left of the pit access ramp. The spectacular blue colour of the lake within the mine is inspiring and is best appreciated at mid-afternoon. The colour is due to copper sulphide.

    The water looks tempting, especially in this dry and hot weather, but strictly no swimming due to the potential health hazard (it was a uranium mine still rich in uranium deposits, what do you expect? :p).

    Leave a Comment

  • Website: http://www.uic.com.au/mku.htm

    • Add to Your Trip Planner  Post a Question  Write a Tip on
    Rate      Not Helpful  1   2   3   4   5  Very Helpful
    1
    More Mount Isa Tips
    Overview
         		General Tips
    Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
    Restaurants
    » Add a tip now    		Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 5 - Photos: 3
    Things To Do
    Tips: 12 - Photos: 11    		Nightlife
    Tips: 2 - Photos: 2
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 2 - Photos: 2    		Tourist Traps
    » Add a tip now
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 7 - Photos: 6    		Transportation
    Tips: 2 - Photos: 2
    Local Customs
    » Add a tip now    		Packing Lists
    » Add a tip now
    Shopping
    Tips: 2 - Photos: 2    		Sports Travel
    Tips: 2 - Photos: 2
    Flights
    Tips: 10 - Photos: 9

    More Sponsored Links for Mount Isa
    Search Hotels
    Find the best room rates
    All Mount Isa Hotels

    Check-In Date:


    Check-Out Date:


    Guests

    Hotels by OneTime.com

    Popular Hotels and Accommodations in Mount Isa

    » More Hotels and Accommodations in Mount Isa




    Find:        Matching:  Advanced