Peter Wilson, who now lives at Tweed Heads in New South Wales, recently discovered a photo he took of Mr Miles and his prospecting mate Joe.

Mr Wilson got a job on the construction crew of the Mica Creek Power Station.

``The workers were housed in what was then called the BSD [originally an American military establishment during World War II and short for base service depot],'' he said.

``There were barracks housing hundreds of men working for Mount Isa Mines.

``This is where I had the privilege of meeting Campbell Miles, who was in the adjoining room with his prospecting mate Joe.'' 

Mr Wilson said he asked Mr Miles why he wasn't staying at the MIM company house.

``He said he had been invited but preferred our environment, where he was more comfortable,'' he said. 

Mr Wilson asked Mr Miles about the discovery of Mount Isa.

Mr Miles told him he had been tailing horses through the area in 1924 when he noticed a particular type of stone that he had not seen before.

``Being an amateur prospector, I took a specimen and had it examined,'' Mr Miles said.

Mount Isa Mines was floated in January 1924.

Mr Miles received 500 shares worth 10,000.

Mr Wilson said he had fond memories of his time in Mount Isa in the '50s.

``Construction on the Snowy River had finished and a lot of the workers arrived in the Isa,'' he said.

``Ladies were few and far between and those unattached were treated like queens.''