Kidston State Battery & Township

Kidston State Battery is an abandoned mining complex with a large timber-framed battery shed, manager's residence, and water pump positioned beside the Copperfield River. The facility houses a 15-head stamp battery that was used to crush and process gold ore extracted from nearby claims.

The site developed following the Oaks Rush gold discovery in 1907 and rapidly grew into a substantial mining settlement. The state battery was constructed in 1922 and processed ore for several decades before operations ceased in the mid-20th century.

The site's name links directly to the gold discovery that brought workers and families to this remote location, and you can still see how the township was organized to serve the mining population.

The site is located in a remote area and requires preparation with appropriate supplies and water before visiting. The ruins remain open and accessible, but visitors should be ready for uneven ground and changeable weather conditions.

The battery plant was known for running continuously and processing large volumes of ore, making it a major hub for gold extraction in North Queensland. Today visitors can observe the surviving structures that demonstrate how intensive this mining operation had become.

Location: Queensland

GPS coordinates: -18.87740,144.16660

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:43