An historic Australian outback town - May 2012 (Great period architecture - be pleasantly surprised)

[Burden]

A historic town rarely mentioned on SSC, so on the weekend I decided to visit Charters Towers about an hours drive south west of Townsville.

It's the first time Ive visited the town in 15 years and was genuinely surprised. I was fascinated by its historic architectural charm and period features, something you see pretty much nothing of in Townsville...

Some famous people have also lived and grew up here like cricket legend Andrew Symonds and TV/Radio personality Kyle Sanliands spent some of his teenage life here.

The drive is really cool, took me 50 minutes and the road is really good quality, long straights and narrow passes through the foothils.

Towards the end of the pictures on the highway heading back to Townsville you'll notice it almost looks night time, was very dark and it was only 2.30pm in the afternoon - a massive sand storm which was frequent for the area blanketed the highway.

The town holds historic significance with a War Memorial for the Boer War - there are only around 6 Boer War Memorials in the country.

I also liked the old stock exchange which hosted an old Target store, which was amazing inside with incredible, ornate skylights.

There is also a vibrant arts scene for such a small place, with a great old theatre still in use (The World Theatre) and a cool historic cinema.

Enjoy

[Youngplanner]

Looks a bit, err... Redneck.

[Dimethyltryptamine]

it no doubt is. it's country qld :s would suck to live there. though in the 1880s it was the largest town outside of Brisbane and was fairly wealthy for its time thanks to gold mining.

[Burden]

Yeah I found the locals to be real arrogant. Got really mad at the lad who made my Subway who seemed like he had better things to do... I dunno pan some Gold?

Originally Posted by Youngplanner

Looks a bit, err... Redneck.

So are towns in W.A, but that's like all rural/isolated communities no?

[Youngplanner]

Yes you're so right about that. I grew up in a small town and I don't feel at home when I go back there any more. I went to York last weekend with a couple of mates and it has that redneck vibe about it, and that's only 90 k's from Perth. In saying that Charters Towers does look like a very interesting place.

[BSD]

Charters Towers has a sign saying 'city'? Haha get out, Charters Towers is VERY much of small town. Its barely make 8,000 in census.......way much smaller than towns across the nation! Alstonville-Wollingbar have population of 9,500 and it is not called as a city....

[Burden]

Originally Posted by BSD

Charters Towers has a sign saying 'city'? Haha get out, Charters Towers is VERY much of small town. Its barely make 8,000 in census.......way much smaller than towns across the nation! Alstonville-Wollingbar have population of 9,500 and it is not called as a city....

Use common sense champ, People can easily read "city" whilst doing 80-100km and relay that information.

They aren't going to put "town center" or whatever rubbish you suggest just to appease a small minority concerned about a simple highway sign.

And for the record pal "Alstonville-Wollongbar" has a population of 5000..

[nathandavid88]

Some beautiful architecture there. In some of those shots of the main street through town (from picture 13), I think it looks rather similar to the main drag of some of the inner suburbs around Melbourne to be honest. The big difference is that they've kept the buildings looking great, particularly the City Hall, Post Office, Stock Exchange Arcade and Commerce Bank building. Very few looking rundown at all.

Shame about the attitude of some of the people there though!

[Wezza]

My home town. Yes there are red necks there, but they're everywhere in Australia. Big cities included.

[Aussie Bhoy]

Thanks for taking the time, nice to see somewhere different.

You might have got a chance for some more police car photos if they'd caught your driving photgraphy! I've done it too, bit naughty.

[Arreis]

Nice old town. I think it looks more like a NSW regional town than the typical QLD small town.

[phreeky82]

I've only been there once. It has some interesting buildings and stuff that you don't see a great deal of in NQld, especially ones that haven't been done right up as a nightclub or something.

As for the size of Charters Towers, my understanding is that is used to be quite a significant town/city/whatever in its peak - something like 30,000, to some large enough to claim to be a "city".

[Derek40]

Reminds me a bit of Leeton in the Riverina region of NSW.
The tropical vegetation gives it away though.
Love that old red earth tinge the roads, rare to see now.

[Wezza]

Originally Posted by phreeky82

As for the size of Charters Towers, my understanding is that is used to be quite a significant town/city/whatever in its peak - something like 30,000, to some large enough to claim to be a "city".

This is correct.

[CULWULLA]

i came across Charters Towers in my studies on brick chimneys for my book.
In 1890 the town was home to one of Australias tallest chimneys. the stack was built atop Towers hill.as part of Pyrites mines, The 167ft stack dominated the town. it was 17ft across and consisted of 120,000bricks.
Unfortunatley in 1944,it was looked at as war target and had to be felled by explosion. now a stack a bricks marks the spot.

[aussiescraperman]

nice pics. and like BSD, I was also surprised to see charters towers referred to as City on the road sign. Don't see that often.

[RDSA]

Originally Posted by aussiescraperman

nice pics. and like BSD, I was also surprised to see charters towers referred to as City on the road sign. Don't see that often.

Really, there's a couple places in victoria that have "city status" even though though the population is not much bigger then Charters Towers is now.

considering charters towers was once much larger its not surprising it was declared a city some time in its past.

[aussiescraperman]

not disagreeing that it's classified as a city, just the signage for it seems strange.

[RDSA]

it was more directed at bsd who seems to think charters towers - queenton - milchester - towers hill - Alabama hill - grand secret - southern cross - richmond hill - toll - Columbia - mosman park undeserving of its "city" sign when theres not much else around.

[Wezza]

Originally Posted by CULWULLA

i came across Charters Towers in my studies on brick chimneys for my book.
In 1890 the town was home to one of Australias tallest chimneys. the stack was built atop Towers hill.as part of Pyrites mines, The 167ft stack dominated the town. it was 17ft across and consisted of 120,000bricks.
Unfortunatley in 1944,it was looked at as war target and had to be felled by explosion. now a stack a bricks marks the spot.

Not exactly a war "target". They knocked it down because they were worried about allied planes returning to Charters Towers might hit it at night time.