Queenstown is a town literally carved out of the impressive bare mountain rocks which dominate its surrounds. Located 38 kilometres from Zeehan and over 250 kilometres from Hobart, Queenstown is the main centre of the west coast and has a strong mining heritage which also acts as a major tourist attraction.

Mining has been ongoing here since 1888 when alluvial gold was first discovered in the area, and later the exploitation of the vast mineral deposits in the Mount Lyell fields have ensured that Queenstown's existence is heavily reliant on mining.

The first settlers in the area would have encountered dense scrubland, rugged mountains and heavy rainfall, plus the added burden of having to carry all their supplies with them as road communication was virtually non existent at that time. In fact, before the construction of the Lyell highway and Murchison Highway to Hobart and Burnie respectively, Queenstown relied on rail links from Burnie or shipping from Strahan. This was the same scenario for many of the other west coast towns in the early days.

The Mount Lyell Company presence in Queenstown has been influential from the town's inception. The company was founded in 1893 and first prospected for gold and silver. Just as the company seemed about to close, a rich silver seam was discovered in 1894 which in two years ended up yielding more than any of the Zeehan silver mines.

As a result, it was decided to construct a railway to Strahan in 1894. Quarters built for Company employees are now backpackers accommodation. The future of mining in the area is in doubt as the world prices of metal seem to fluctuate.

In 1911, Queenstown had a population of 3,827 people, and had numerous facilities such as a public library and reading room, a police presence, schools, churches and a number of cultural and athletic clubs such as the Owls Dramatic Club, the Shakespeare Club and two brass bands and a football club, rifle club, tennis club and a ladies Physical Culture Club.

The west coast miners formed the Labour Party in Tasmania, and one of Queenstown's sons - King O'Malley - was said to have been the founder of the Commonwealth Bank. The town has not only had prosperous times. In 1912 the Mt Lyell mine disaster claimed 42 lives, and the Penghana fire which destroyed the first settlement bears testament to the hard times Queenstown has suffered.

Today, Queenstown's rail link to Strahan is gone and the copper concentrate is shipped via trucks to the Melba Flats railway and transported from there to Burnie, where the concentrate is shipped to Japan. The nearby town of Gormanston on the slopes of Mount Owen was the site of the original mining settlement, and the now deserted town of Linda was also a prosperous mining centre in the late 19th century.

Queenstown is also the gateway to the World-Heritage listed south west area.


Natural Attractions

The terrain around Queenstown is amongst the most spectacular in Tasmania, and attracts many visitors each year. The winding Lyell Highway meanders up steep slopes, past rugged cliffs and mountain faces devoid of any vegetation. This terrain was partly the result of mining, bushfires, heavy eroding rainfall and also the large scale timber cutting operations in the area during the early history of the township. By 1900 the district had been stripped bare of its vegetation, and this remains one of the interesting features of the landscape today.

Lake Burbury and the surrounding mountains make for interesting viewing also. Spectacular views of the valley and the imposing mountain ranges may be obtained from the 350 metre long Bradshaw Bridge which traverses the Lake. A range of walking trails and lookout points may be explored around the area.

Queenstown may also be used as a base from which to explore the World-Heritage listed south west, including the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, and the Gordon River and surrounding environs. Cruises on the Gordon River may be undertaken from nearby Strahan.

Lyell Tours arrange various day trips to the surrounding Bird River Rainforest Area.

Other Attractions

Visit the Photographic Museum located in the Imperial Hotel in Queenstown, and view the extensive photographic history of Queenstown and other mining towns in the area. There is an extensive display of well over 1,000 photographs which incorporates the history of most of the west coast area. There are also displays of personal memorabilia and other interesting articles. The Galley Museum is open to the public and has a collection of local historical items for viewing.

At Cottagious you will come across a wonderful array of collectables, old wares and an assortment of crafts. It is located at 42 McNamara Street, phone (004) 71 2593. Opening hours are from Tuesday to Friday from 12 noon until 5pm. On Saturdays it is open from 1pm until 4pm.

Tours of the Mt Lyell mines to see the surface operations may be undertaken by prior arrangement, and a visit to the Mining Museum and Miners Siding is a must to discover the development and history of the mining industry in the west coast area.

Numerous sports may be played in Queenstown, and visitors can avail of gym facilities. Sports such as tennis, bowls, golf, swimming, squash and bowling can be found here.

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