Townsville to Camooweal
In the first in a series of posts looking at the drive tourism routes in Queensland we will look at the small museums on the Overlanders Way – from Townsville to Mt Isa. For the continuity for the Museum Development Program, we will continue west and also include Camooweal. This is in the North Queensland Principal Museum Development Officer region, Ewen Mcphee.
The Maritime Museum of Townsville is located in one of the best locations in Townsville on the banks of the Ross Creek in the popular restaurant and accommodation precinct on Palmer Street in South Townsville. It documents the rich maritime heritage of Townsville and north Queensland and is a must visit for maritime enthusiasts.
This fantastic social history museum is dedicated to the history of Townsville. Their object rich collection explores the history of Townsville and the region. This museum is well worth a visit as an introduction to the region at the start of the Overlanders Way.
Army Museum of North Queensland
Located at the end of The Strand within the historic Jezzine Barracks the museum showcases the extensive history of the army in North Queensland. Townsville and North Queensland have a long and rich history as a garrison city and this museum is well worth the visit.
This museum documents the role of the Royal Australian Airforce in and around Townsville since the Second World War. Located on the Air Force base, this museum documents the aircraft, people and stories that tell important history of this base.
Magnetic Island History and Craft Centre
Located at Picnic Bay on Magnetic Island this small museum is a must see while on your island sojourn. Learn all about Island life over the years and how it has retained its unique character.
Charters Towers
Housed in 1891 and 1901 buildings, this social history museum is bursting with objects and stories from Charters Towers and the region. From gold mining to transport, to living in the city there is something for everyone to see and learn. This National Trust of Queensland run museum allows the visitor the first taste of western Queensland and frames the rest of the trip on the Overlanders Way.
Ambulance Museum – Gill Street
As a city built during the gold mining boom – the architecture and scale of the buildings are some of the best in Queensland. The Ambulance Museum building reflects this and the displays tell of the role of the service in the city and throughout the region.
Hughenden
This newly revamped tourist information centre and museum is the first introduction to the changed landscapes of the region. This section of the drive increases in elevation by driving up the Burra Range through White Mountain National Park, and past the turnoff to Porcupine Gorge. The visitors are introduced to dinosaurs, marine fossils as well as the social history of the region – learning about the wool industry, living in the west and local town industries. Hughenden is also the first stop on the Australia Dinosaur Trail.
Richmond
Kronosaurus Korner is located in the centre of Richmond and holds unique fossil specimens from Richmond and the surrounding areas of northwestern Queensland.
Cambridge Downs Heritage Display Centre
Built from local flagstone rock, the Cambridge Downs Heritage Display Centre is a replica of the original Cambridge Downs Homestead built in the late 1880s. The displays tell the story of the early pioneers and the way of life in the district.
Julia Creek
The Duncan McIntyre Museum is a small social history museum that is located in two adjacent venues on the main street of Julia Creek. It explores pastoralism, living in the west, technology and emergency services
Julia Creek also has the “At the Creek” visitor information centre that details the history of the region through photographs, film and objects. There is also Dunnart feeding!
Cloncurry
Situated on the eastern approach to Cloncurry this Museum and Visitor Information Centre is located within the Mary Kathleen Memorial Park. This Park, along with displays inside the impressive building, tells the story of the old Uranium mine, now closed, that was situated between Cloncurry and Mt Isa. Also on display is one of the largest gem and mineral displays, presented beautifully in some of the old Queensland Museum display cases – an artefact in themselves. Social history of the region including the story of Ernest Henry, who first found copper in 1867.
The Burke and Wills display includes Robert O’Hara Burke’s water bottle and a scar tree. There is a well stocked gift shop, with coffee.
This museum showcases the life and achievements of the Reverend John Flynn and his team and the establishment of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, in Cloncurry in 1928. Also on display are the famous pedal Traeger radios, instrumental in communicating in remote Queensland, and the story of the nurses and the pilots. Great souvenirs are also available.
Mount Isa
Underground Hospital and Museum showcases the story of how and why the Underground Hospital was built in Mt Isa following the 1942 bombing of Darwin. You can visit the four tunnels that were built over 15 weeks by local miners and learn about how the hospital and community prepared themselves. An unusual and fascinating history well worth the visit.
On the same site is a relocated original Mt Isa tent house that housed miners between 1932 and 1952. This interesting architectural tour allows you to experience what it must have been like living in north west Queensland and also working in the mine. There is also the Beth Anderson Museum where you can view a large collection of medical equipment and learn about colourful stories into Mt Isa history.
At Outback at Isa, Mount Isa’s major tourism facility, you will find the Mount Isa Visitor Information Centre (VIC), Hard Times Mine Underground Tour, Isa Experience and Outback Park, the Mount Isa Regional Art Gallery, Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre.
Camooweal
The Dovers Camp, houses the Drovers Heritage Centre and is open from May to September to match the western Queensland tourist season. Located right on the Northern Territory/Queensland border, Camooweal is a great place to stop and learn about the life of a drover and droving in outback Australia.
Queensland Museum & Community Collections 
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