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About Mount Isa
Mount Isa is a unique and progressive city nestled among the splendor of the Selwyn Ranges in the
heart of north west Queensland.
Once a frontier town built around the vast mineral resources the city is famous for, Mount Isa has grown
into a thriving industrial and commercial centre that is renowned for its friendly and welcoming nature,
while also offering modern metropolitan conveniences which add to the city’s increasingly cosmopolitan
ambience.
Mount Isa is represented by independent MP Bob Katter in Federal Parliament and Labor Party MP Betty Kiernan in the Queensland
Parliament. Councillor John Molony is the Mayor of Mount Isa City.
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The City
The City of Mount Isa is located 1,829 kilometres from Brisbane, and
883 kilometres from Townsville.
It covers an area of over 43,310 square kilometers, making it geographically the second largest city in Australia after
Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia.
With a population of approximately 23,500, Mount Isa is a major
service centre for north west Queensland, and a thriving city well equipped to satisfy residential,
business and industrial needs.
For more information about 'The Isa' click here
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Tourism
Mount Isa brings out the adventurous spirit in everyone, with ample
places to explore and discover, fish, camp, 4WD, or sit back and
enjoy an amazing Outback sunset.
The rugged terrain is a four wheel driver's haven, and visitors can
explore the region just as the pioneers did many years
ago.
The twin jewels in Mount Isa's crown are the spectacular Lawn Hill
Gorge in Boodjamulla National Park and its neighbour; the world-heritage listed Riversleigh Fossil Fields,
both of which are accessed from Mount Isa.
A must see while in Mount Isa is the Outback at Isa complex, incorporating the award winning
Riversleigh Fossil Centre, Hard Times Mine, Sir James Foots Building, Outback Park and Visitor
Information Centre.
Other attractions are the School of the Air, the Royal Flying Doctors base, National Trust Tent House,
Underground Hospital and Beth Anderson Museum and fishing for
barramundi at Lake Moondarra.
For more information abour tourism in the region click here |
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Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo
The Isa Rodeo grew from humble beginnings in 1959 to become
the biggest event on the Australian rodeo calendar, and the biggest
rodeo in the southern hemisphere.
The event, held in August each year, attracts the best of local and overseas competitors with
prize money in excess of $200,000.
The Isa Rodeo offers a two-week long program of festivities
including a ball, mardi gras, the famous Mailman Express horse race, art and photographic exhibitions, ute muster and live
entertainment.
During the Rodeo period, accommodation outlets report a 100 per cent occupancy rate. Additional
temporary camping facilities are created within the city to cater for the Rodeo overflow.
For more information about the Mount Isa Rotary Rodeo click here |
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Xstrata Mount Isa Mines
Xstrata Mount Isa Mines operates two separate mining and processing
streams, copper and zinc-lead-silver.
Comprising both underground and open pit mining operations, Mount Isa Mines is one of the largest mining operations in the world.
Mount Isa Mines’ copper operations include two underground copper mines
(Enterprise and X41),
a concentrator and a copper smelter.
The Enterprise mine is the most recently developed copper ore source at
Mount Isa and is Australia’s deepest mine, with an internal shaft which reaches
a depth of 1,900 metres. For more information about Mount Isa Mines' copper operations click here
Mount Isa Mines’ zinc operations include the George Fisher underground zinc-lead
mine, two open pit zinc-lead mines (Black
Star and Handlebar Hill), a concentrator and a
lead smelter. George Fisher is the second largest underground zinc mine in the world.
For more information about Mount Isa Mine's zinc-lead operations click here |
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Agriculture
Queensland is Australia’s largest producer and exporter of beef, producing more than 70% of the
nation’s product. Mount Isa and the surrounding region support a large number of beef properties,
making it the second largest industry in the region after mining.
A great percentage of cattle producers in Queensland use Brahman or breeds containing Brahman
blood. The Brahman’s ability to adapt to tropical and sub-tropical environments means beef cattle
production on previously unproductive land is made possible.
For more information click here |
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The Kalkadoon people
The Kalkadoons are one of the most famous Australian Aboriginal nations. Their cultural traditions, tall
physiques and reputation as fierce warriors have been studied around the world.
The heartland of the Kalkadoon country is the Mount Isa region where they live to this day and hold strong links to the land.
The Kalkadoon first came into contact with white pioneer settlers and their cattle in the 1870s. Due to
their rugged and isolated territory they were one of the last tribes in Queensland to come into contact
with settlers.
There was a great hostility between the settlers and the Kalkadoon, and years of fighting came to a head in 1884 at the
battle of Battle Mountain. The Kalkadoon were defeated but became the only indigenous tribe to challenge an organised
group of white men to open combat and fight to the very end.
The Kalkadoon people have historically been artistic and this was emonstrated in their dances, songs,
carvings and paintings. They were also skilled toolmakers, their axes among the finest in Australia and
traded between tribes as far south as South Australia.
For more information click here |
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Mount Isa greats
Many great Australians were born in Mount Isa and share a part of ‘The Isa’s’ history.
Mount Isa’s greats include:
- Bill Sweetenham, Olympic Swimming Coach
- Carl Webb, rugby league player (pictured)
- Deborah Mailman, actress
- Douglas Rees Laing, International agricultural scientist
- Gene Miles, rugby league player
- Gerard Denton, cricketer
- Greg Norman, golfer
- John White, squash player
- Nathan Fien, rugby league player
- Pat Mackie, union leader
- Pat Rafter, tennis player
- Richard De Chazal, international fashion designer and photographer
- Scott Prince, rugby league player
- Simmone Jade Mackinnon, actress
- Simon Black, Australian rules footballer, and
- William Barton, Didgeridoo player |
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