Mill Point Settlement Site, Historical settlement site near Lake Cootharaba, Queensland, Australia
Mill Point Settlement Site is an archaeological area near Lake Cootharaba containing the remains of a former sawmill township. Scattered across the site are building foundations, pieces of industrial machinery, and burial grounds that reveal how the community was organized.
The settlement was founded in 1869 by Charles Samuel Russell and partners as a center for processing timber. It became an important part of Queensland's early industrial development before eventually declining and being abandoned.
The settlement included a school that opened in 1874 with 16 students, serving both educational purposes and as a community gathering space for local events.
Interpretive signs are placed throughout the site to help visitors understand the layout and locations of different areas. Walking through the area allows you to explore the archaeological remains and get a sense of how the settlement was spread out.
A boiler explosion in 1873 killed several workers and prompted groundbreaking changes to steam boiler safety standards across Queensland. This incident marked a turning point in how industrial machinery was regulated in the region.
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