The mineral institute (AusIMM) has mustered its forces with the Zara Clark Museum to restore a 1935 Gold Mines of Australia glass model of the Charters Towers gold mines.  

The model was considered to be hi-tech in its day and is one of the last of its type remaining in the world.

Charters Towers mines produced more than six million ounces of gold from 1872 to 1918, worth more than $12 billion in today’s money.  

Some years ago, the famous, but damaged, model was located in the old assay office at the Stock Exchange.

Survey, assess, rebuild

In 2018 the then chief executive officer of the National Trust of Australia (Queensland) made the decision to move what could be moved from the assay room to the Zara Clark Museum, which had recently acquired the space to create a special ‘Gold Room’.  

The problem then was whether the remnants of the model could be restored or should be dumped, said Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) NQ Branch spokesman, Jim Morrison.  

“Volunteer, Garry Watson was eager to see the glass model restored and began contacting people he thought could provide guidance,” Mr Morrison said.

“Contact was made with Phil Jay and Dale Sims of the AusIMM, the North Queensland Branch of which had separately been trying to get the model restored for 30 years.  This resulted in the NQ Branch allocating some funding for the work.”

Unfortunately, trying to use modern paint on new glass just smudged; the original artists had access to lead-based paints and different glass. 

After unsuccessful efforts over three years to get the renovation underway the branch decided to give the project one last try with the support of the museum volunteers.  

In April last year they spotted an advertisement for a Regional Arts Development Fund Grant. Deadlines were tight and they made a submission with just hours to spare, Mr Morrison said.

The grant was successful, with the help of the Charters Towers Regional Council RADF Committee chaired by Graham Lohmann, he said.

The next issue of how to restore the broken glass mine level plans was solved by local geophysicist Rebecca Williams who was aware that Citigold had digitised the old mine plans in the 1990s.  

“These were publicly available and could be reprocessed and digitally printed onto glass,” Mr Morrison said. 

“She achieved this with the aid of software made available by Minjar Gold at Pajingo, and access to the digital data from local surveyor Craig Reardon.

“To help the preservation and understanding of the model for future generations, the model was made dust-proof and energy-efficient lighting was installed. 

“New interpretive posters on the historic significance of the model were prepared as well as an upgraded satellite photo location map.  Printing on ACM panels was undertaken by local sign writer Chris Ives.”

Hi-tech presentation of 1930’s high tech

A large digital monitor was also installed and, with the help of Charters Towers State High School IT expert Darren Hatten, was activated to show historical mining presentations, 3D fly-throughs, and videos.  

This is bringing the goldfield to life for the many visitors who come to the museum. 

The restored model was opened on May 28 by former Mines Inspector and ‘Beneath Hill 60’ movie producer Ross Thomas.  Museum co-ordinator Ann Gibbon spoke highly of museum and AusIMM volunteers.

“When volunteers achieve a result such as this, a community displays its spirit,” Ms Gibbon said. 

“When the achievement is on display in a museum that attracts visitors from all over the country and indeed the world, both the achievement and the community spirit are on display.”

The model was built at the instigation of famous geologist Terence Conolly as part of an investigation into the viability of reopening of the Charters Towers gold mines.  It has inspired generations of gold explorers since being put on display in the 1970s.

In its day, Charters Towers was the premier goldfield in Australia, with operations extending over 5km of strike length and to depths of more than 900m. 

The model is made up of four cabinets of horizontal glass sheets which enable direct visualisation of the extent of the mines, the distribution of the ore shoots, and thus the likely location of additional mineralisation. 

Now restored, it was hoped that it would inspire future generations of the potential of the goldfield and give them an appreciation of the heroic efforts by their mining ancestors, Mr Morrison said.

The Zara Clark Museum buildings and contents are owned by the National Trust of Australia (Queensland) Branch and it is staffed entirely by volunteers. 

The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (The Mineral Institute) is the peak professional organisation for Mining Engineers, Metallurgists, Geologists and related professionals.  It has a worldwide membership of over 12,000.

(Main photo at top: Volunteers Garry Watson and Ian Fishbourne with plate glass model in Charters Towers)