In the winter of 1867, Ernest Henry was searching the Cloncurry river looking for grazing land but instead he found copper.
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Henry named his find the 'Great Australia' but when a town was surveyed in 1876 it was named after the river.
The history of Cloncurry town will be at the forefront of everyone’s mind when it celebrates its 150th anniversary later this year.
Mayor Greg Campbell said plans were progressing in the town for events that would be “bigger and better than ever”.
“Our main week of festivities is in September”, Cr Campbell said.
“It’s going to be a reunion-type event where we encourage everyone with connections to Cloncurry to come back and rekindle old friendships and relive their memories of Cloncurry.”
It’s going to be a reunion-type event where we encourage everyone with connections to Cloncurry to come back and rekindle old friendships and relive their memories of Cloncurry.
- Mayor Greg Campbell
Cr Campbell said it was also about increasing Cloncurry’s profile.
“We are trying to attract a headline act to the street party on the final day,” he said.
“We are putting together the Mayor’s civic reception so we’ll invite all our past mayors, councillors and local members and also some ministers and senior politicians to celebrate with us.”
As a curtain raiser to September the Q150 steam train will arrive in town to coincide with the annual Cloncurry Show with tickets expected to be on sale soon.
“It’s a chance for people from Townsville and anywhere in between to get on the train and come to Cloncurry,” Cr Campbell said.
Cr Campbell said they were also working on the possibility of playing a Queensland Cup rugby league game in town this year. “One thing we definitely have is the Arthur Beetson junior carnival, that’s going to be huge,” he said.
“Hopefully as a curtain raiser we’ll see the north-west invitational team versus a Queensland Police team.”