Wednesday 16 September 2020

Queenstown, Tasmania

Queenstown, Tasmania which has long been tied to the mining industry.  This mountainous area was first explored in 1862.  It was long after that when alluvial gold was discovered at Mount Lyell, prompting the formation of the Mount Lyell Gold Mining Company in 1881.  In 1892 the mine began searching for copper.


In the 1900's Queenstown was the centre of the Mount Lyell mining district and had numerous smelting works, brick-works, and sawmills.  The area at the time was finely wooded.  The population in 1900 was 5051: the district, 10,451 people with just under 2,000 people today.

The mountains surrounding Queenstown have unusual pink and grey hues that come from the conglomerate rocks on the two most adjacent mountains - Mount Lyell and Mount Owen. The mountains surrounding Queenstown are often snowcapped through winter.  Snow falls a few days out of the year.

Owing to a combination of tree removal for use in the smelters and the smelter fumes *for about 40 years), and the heavy annual rainfall, the erosion of the shallow horizon topsoil back to the harder rock profile contributed to the stark state of the mountains for many decades.

The Queen River was for most of the history of the Mount Lyell company the recipient of mining effluent and the Queenstown  sewage - which then continued into the King River and consequently the Macquarie Harbour.

The Mount Lyell Remediation and Research and Demonstration Program scheme has since removed the direct flowing mining waste and local waste from the rivers.
Wikipedia
 
 
The last 3 photos were taken in 2018.  
 

The Empire Hotel where we once had a Christmas Dinner, it's now the Information Centre also has a Restaurant  and accommodation.


36 comments:

  1. Wonderful views! I like the architecture of the Empire Hotel, it's pretty impressive. Enjoy your day!

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  2. Parece un buen hotel para alojarse.

    Me ha impresionado los bellos paisajes que has fotografiado.

    Besos

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    1. More landscapes to come..It's a place of mountains in that area.

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  3. I can remember reading somewhere (and I hope it was fake news) that some of the residents of Queenstown were sorry to see the trees return - because it removed a tourist attraction!!!
    I am very glad that the rivers and waterways were cleaned, and hope that the trees and wildlife continue to return.

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    1. You read correctly, it was a fair while ago.
      The landscape looked once like a luna one by the photos we have seen.
      To me it's pleasing the trees are returning and also to many others.

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  4. Mining and gold - interesting subjects! I suppose the area of Queenstown attracted a lot of adventurers looking for gold, along with hard working miners.

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    1. Oh yes mining sure did attract so many people, all over Australia.
      The Queenstown mine is for sale apparently.

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  5. Hello Margaret,
    Very nice pictures. Fantastic this area.
    Wonderful.

    Greetings, Marco

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  6. As we noted, the rivers are much better than they were but still somewhat polluted with runoff. It's an interesting town.

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    1. So much cleaner than it once was those rivers and streams which is a good thing.
      Yes, interesting and like most towns unique.

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  7. Replies
    1. It is rather a nice place but of course not so many people live there these days, not like it once was.

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  8. What a grand looking old building - very beautiful.

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    1. They both are. Lucky to have them and being maintained as well.

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  9. So lovely countryside. I like a lot. And the houses are beautiful, very different as we have here.
    Hugs

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    Replies
    1. From your photos it is very different, that's why I love to see what your country is like :)

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  10. Very informative - well done, Margaret.
    Colin

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  11. Replies
    1. It's lovely driving down the highway around those bends..beautiful views.

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  12. The Empire Hotel Is Gorgeous - Thanx For Sharing These Photos From The Past - Have A Beautiful Weekend

    Cheers

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  13. wow a town with gold mines sounds fascinating to me :)

    i enjoyed knowing town near you dear Margaret ,i can see how beautiful and lush it is through your lovely images
    thank you for sharing this with us
    blessings!

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