Mount Clara chimney, Industrial heritage chimney near Kilkivan, Australia
Mount Clara chimney is a 13.8 meter high structure made from local bluestone and iron that remains from a copper smelter built in 1873. The ruins show an oval internal shape and still contain a preserved fire-box that shows how the smelting process worked.
The smelter was built in 1873 when copper mining was booming in Queensland and drew many people to the region. Today it stands as the only remaining sign of this early industrial period in the area.
The chimney reflects how workers processed copper and the building methods common to this area in the 1800s. You can still see traces of this craft in how the structure was put together.
The structure sits off the main highway and requires driving through rural roads to reach it. There is a parking area at the base of the hill from where you can walk up to the ruins on foot.
The interior of the chimney has an unusual oval shape rather than the typical round or square form, which sets it apart from other industrial structures of that era. This detail shows the creative approaches local builders took in their design.
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