Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Mount Isa

Mount Isa

Mount Isa, the premier city in Queensland's outback, is located at the junction of the Barkly Highway & the Diamantina Developmental Road and lies along the Leichhardt River. Nestled in the Selwyn Ranges, the city owes its existence to the Mount Isa mines (copper, zinc, silver & lead), of which the machinery and associated smoke stacks dominate the city skyline. The city is nevertheless an attractive oasis compared with its surrounds and a welcome relief to travelers as it essentially offers the luxuries and services of city life in a remote location. Copper was first discovered in the area by gold prospector John Miles during his 1923 expedition into Northern Territory. Within a year the town was established with mining activity prominent. The town's isolation, poor ore grade and prices saw the mine off to a shaky start however when the railway from Cloncurry & Townsville arrived in 1929, the mine became more viable and higher production commenced. The mine today still produces a substantial amount of ore and the city of Mount Isa has grown substantially to become the commercial centre for north-west Queensland. Of interest in the area includes Lake Moondarra (8km north - recommended), tours of the Mount Isa Mines, the lookout at The Gap (1km east), the Royal Flying Doctor Base, The Outback at Isa & Riversleigh Fossil Centre and the former uranium mining town Mary Kathleen (80km east).

Population: 19,000
State: Queensland
Name Origin: Named by the discoverer of copper in the area, John Miles as a similarity to Mount Ida in Western Australia
Pronunciation: Mount I-zar
Postcode: 4825
Local Government: Mount Isa City Council
Location: 1810km north west of Brisbane, 887km west of Townsville
Main Watercourses: Georgina River
Main Roads: Barkly Highway , Diamantina Developmental Road
Radio Stations (Music): Hot FM (102.5), Triple J (104.1), 4LM (AM 666)

Photos from Mount Isa (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

Eastern entrance to Mount Isa on the Barkly Highway (2006).

Looking north along Railway Ave (Diamantina Developmental Rd) as it enters Mount Isa with the mine in the background (2006).

View east along Marian St (Barkly Hwy) at the eastern edge of Mount Isa (2006).

The "Outback at Isa" centre along Marian St, Mount Isa (2006).

Marian Street (Barkly Hwy), looking west from Corbould St, Mt Isa (2006).

Grace Street (Barkly Hwy), looking west as it approaches Camooweal St, Mt Isa (2006).

Grace St (Barkly Hwy), looking east as it approaches West St, Mount Isa (2006).

Grace St (Barkly Hwy), looking west as it crosses the Leichhardt River with the Mt Isa Mine in the background (2006).

Miles Street, looking north from Isa St, Mount Isa (2006).

Miles Street, looking north from Marian St, Mount Isa (2006).

Marian Street, looking west from Miles St, Mt Isa (2006).

West Street, looking south approaching Marian Street, Mt Isa (2006).

Isa Street, looking west from West St as it crosses the Leichhardt River, Mt Isa (2006).

Looking north along Camooweal Rd as it approaches the Barkly Hwy junction, Mt Isa (2006).

Looking south along the Barkly Hwy as it enters Mount Isa from the north (2006).

Mine Road, looking north-east in Mt Isa (2006).

The Mt Isa mine, looking south (2006).

Aeroplane display in the George McCoy parkland next to the Royal Flying Doctors Service and the Leichhardt River to the left, Mt Isa (2006).

Twenty Third Ave, looking east from Railway Ave, Mt Isa (2006).

Abel Smith Parade, looking south as it approaches Park Ave, Mt Isa (2006).

Transmission Street, looking east from Beryl Ave, Mt Isa (2006).

Lake Moondarra parkland, Mt Isa (2006).

Lake Moondarra, looking east, Mt Isa (2006).

Lake Moondarra, looking north, Mt Isa (2006).

Lake Moondarra, looking west, Mt Isa (2006).

View south-east across Camooweal Street from Marian Street, Mt Isa (2006).

View west across Mt Isa CBD and mines from the City Lookout (2006).

View south across Mt Isa from the City Lookout (2006).

View south-east across Mt Isa from the City Lookout (2006).

Parkland and associated picnic facilities at the City Lookout (2006).

Night view over Mt Isa CBD and mines from the City Lookout (2006).

	Eastern entrance to Mount Isa on the Barkly Highway (2006).
	Looking north along Railway Ave (Diamantina Developmental Rd) as it enters Mount Isa with the mine in the background (2006).
	View east along Marian St (Barkly Hwy) at the eastern edge of Mount Isa (2006).
	The "Outback at Isa" centre along Marian St, Mount Isa (2006).
	Marian Street (Barkly Hwy), looking west from Corbould St, Mt Isa (2006).
	Grace Street (Barkly Hwy), looking west as it approaches Camooweal St, Mt Isa (2006).
	Grace St (Barkly Hwy), looking east as it approaches West St, Mount Isa (2006).
	Grace St (Barkly Hwy), looking west as it crosses the Leichhardt River with the Mt Isa Mine in the background (2006).
	Miles Street, looking north from Isa St, Mount Isa (2006).
	Miles Street, looking north from Marian St, Mount Isa (2006).
	Marian Street, looking west from Miles St, Mt Isa (2006).
	West Street, looking south approaching Marian Street, Mt Isa (2006).
	Isa Street, looking west from West St as it crosses the Leichhardt River, Mt Isa (2006).
	Looking north along Camooweal Rd as it approaches the Barkly Hwy junction, Mt Isa (2006).
	Looking south along the Barkly Hwy as it enters Mount Isa from the north (2006).
	Mine Road, looking north-east in Mt Isa (2006).
	The Mt Isa mine, looking south (2006).
	Aeroplane display in the George McCoy parkland next to the Royal Flying Doctors Service and the Leichhardt River to the left, Mt Isa (2006).
	Twenty Third Ave, looking east from Railway Ave, Mt Isa (2006).
	Abel Smith Parade, looking south as it approaches Park Ave, Mt Isa (2006).
	Transmission Street, looking east from Beryl Ave, Mt Isa (2006).
	Lake Moondarra parkland, Mt Isa (2006).
	Lake Moondarra, looking east, Mt Isa (2006).
	Lake Moondarra, looking north, Mt Isa (2006).
	Lake Moondarra, looking west, Mt Isa (2006).
	View south-east across Camooweal Street from Marian Street, Mt Isa (2006).
	View west across Mt Isa CBD and mines from the City Lookout (2006).
	View south across Mt Isa from the City Lookout (2006).
	View south-east across Mt Isa from the City Lookout (2006).
	Parkland and associated picnic facilities at the City Lookout (2006).
	Night view over Mt Isa CBD and mines from the City Lookout (2006).