Charters Towers
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Charters Towers Queensland |
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Aerial view of the town
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 Charters Towers
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| Coordinates | 20°06′0″S 146°16′0″E / 20.10000°S 146.26667°ECoordinates: 20°06′0″S 146°16′0″E / 20.10000°S 146.26667°E | ||||||
| Population | 8,234 (2011 census) | ||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4820 | ||||||
| Elevation | 309.8 m (1,016 ft) | ||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10) | ||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Charters Towers Region | ||||||
| State electorate(s) | Dalrymple | ||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Kennedy | ||||||
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Charters Towers is a town in northern Queensland, Australia. It is 134 kilometres (83 mi) inland (south-west) from Townsville on the Flinders Highway. In 2011 the population was 8,234 people. During the last quarter of the 19th century the town boomed as the rich gold deposits under the city were developed. After becoming uneconomic in the 20th century, profitable mining operations have commenced once again.
Charters Towers township is mildly elevated at 300 metres above sea-level, but this has a noticeable effect, with lower humidity and bigger temperature variations than nearby Townsville. Charters Towers obtains its water supply from the nearby Burdekin River.
The urban area of the town of Charters Towers includes its suburbs: Charters Towers City (the centre of the city); Richmond Hill, Toll and Columbia to the north, Queenton to the east, Grand Secret and Alabama Hill to the west, and Towers Hill, Mosman Park and Millchester to the south.
The town was founded in the 1870s when gold was discovered by chance at Towers Hill on Christmas Eve 1871 by 12-year-old Aboriginal boy, Jupiter Mosman. Jupiter was with a small group of prospectors including Hugh Mosman, James Fraser and George Clarke. Their horses bolted after a flash of lightning. While he was searching Jupiter found both the horses and a nugget of gold in a creek at the base of Towers Hill. Charters originated from the Gold Commissioner, W.S.E.M. Charters. A total of ten major gold reefs were eventually mined.
Such were the boom years, between 1872 and 1899, that Charters Towers hosted its own . The Great Northern railway between Charters Towers and the coastal port of Townsville was completed in December 1882. During this period, the population was approximately 30,000, making Charters Towers Queensland's largest city outside of Brisbane. The city was also affectionately known as 'The World', as it was said that anything one might desire could be had in the 'Towers', leaving no reason to travel elsewhere.
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Wikipedia