Maytown, ghost town in Queensland, Australia
Maytown is a former gold mining town on the banks of the Palmer River in Queensland, now an unpopulated site registered for its heritage value. The ruins include stone kerbing, building foundations, baker's ovens, and a cemetery, along with traces of roughly twelve hotels, six stores, and three banks that once served the community.
The town was established in 1874 after gold was discovered in the area in August 1872, drawing crowds of seekers. Originally called Edwardstown, it was renamed Maytown in 1878 and peaked in the late 1870s before its population began declining after 1900.
The site was a gathering place for Chinese miners and merchants who established temples and businesses here during the gold rush. The traces of this community remain visible in the town layout and speak to the multicultural nature of goldfield settlements.
The site is accessible on foot, allowing visitors to explore the old street layout and scattered remains. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for uneven ground, as building foundations and ruins are spread across the area.
The site features rare stone kerbing and drainage systems built at a time when such permanent structures were unusual for settlements of this size, revealing the residents' faith in lasting growth. A significant Chinese temple site on the ground speaks to the substantial role this community played in the town's development.
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