People of a certain generation will know the name Mary Kathleen as a uranium mine in Northwest Queensland. This mine was a major part of Australia’s mining history, as well as one of our most famous uranium mines. Back in the day, it seemed the nuclear age was dawning with Australia poised to become a major contributor to that new era, not only as a uranium mining nation, but also as a potential scientific leader.

Mary Kathleen, then

Mary Kathleen was discovered in 1954 by a team of prospectors including Clem Walton and Norm McConachy and the eventual mine was named after McConachy’s wife who had died just before the discovery was made.

In 1958 the mine went into production at a grand scale and provided export uranium until 1963, when it became idle. It then went into production again from 1974 to 1982 when it was finally deemed to be exhausted and closed down.

In the mine’s heyday, a whole town was built adjacent to the mine for the workers, with over a thousand people living and working there. The town included a golf course, bowling club, stores, swimming pool, petrol station, emergency services and cinema and boasted that over two hundred babies were born at the town.

Mary Kathleen, today

The town and the mine was provided by the purpose-built Corella Dam, where we were free-camping nearby, and we decided to take a short trip out to Mary Kathleen. I had no idea that the remains of this old town, minus any buildings, would be such a popular destination. All through the site, where houses had once been built to accommodate the workers and their families, were the slabs of these now demolished homes.

These slabs now serve the purpose of providing a level campsite for caravans and motorhomes and there is so much room through the old streets that you can camp in private, or set up with a large group of friends and not bother anyone. There are no amenities available, but if you are able to go off-grid you’ll enjoy a great site.

Walk or drive to the pit

The scenery around the camp is spectacular and very reminiscent of some of the old Albert Namitjira landscapes, but the most spectacular scenery is a short and bumpy 4WD jaunt up the hill to the old pit. We did see a few cyclists and walkers on the track but they were much fitter than us, so we drove up.

The old open cut mine pit is spectacular. The ochre and brown colours of the rock walls and the brilliant blue of the pool of water now filling the bottom of the pit, are surrounded by the red dirt, the white ghost gums and, in our case, the lush green vegetation. We were lucky to have visited this site after a very wet rainy season and the whole country was very green, though I’m sure it will vary with each season.

‘Town Square’ remembered

The information displays in the ‘town square’ give a brief glimpse into the history of the site and the whole place has a very eerie feel about it. Thinking back to that promised new era of nuclear power and it’s almost like an episode of The Twilight Zone, for those of a certain generation, where the aliens have landed and transported a whole town away from its location.

Happy trails, Fireman Ron & Di Sinclair