Kuridala Township site, former mining town in Queensland, Australia
Kuridala Township site is a mining community ruin in Queensland now recognized as a ghost town. The remains include stone walls, mine shafts, and two distinctive tall chimneys from the former Hampden Smelter visible from a distance.
Following copper discovery in 1884, Kuridala grew rapidly into a thriving mining town that peaked at around 2,000 residents. The Hampden Smelter opened in 1911 and played a crucial role producing metals during the First World War, yet after the war declining copper prices led to the facility's closure around 1926.
The name Kuridala comes from an Aboriginal word meaning eagle hawk, though its exact linguistic origin remains unclear. The ruins and two tall chimneys stand as evidence of how mining work once shaped daily life and community bonds.
The site is located about 40 miles (65 km) south of Cloncurry and is easy to recognize by its two tall chimneys. Visitors should watch for unmarked open mine shafts and wear appropriate footwear to handle the uneven ground.
The cemetery grounds contain over 360 graves, documenting the town's former population growth and layered history. This quiet resting place tells the story of people who sought new lives, leaving behind a legacy preserved only in these gravestones.
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