The Zara Clark Museum in Charters Towers is seeking old footage and slide shows of regional mining operations to add to the displays made possible by an AusIMM donation of a touchscreen kiosk.
The touchscreen kiosk was donated by the AusIMM North Queensland branch in 2023/24 to accompany a restored 1930s glass model of the Charters Towers gold mines.
Existing displays include footage of the commencement of the Mount Leyshon gold mine operations in 1986, the construction of the Greenvale nickel mine and associated Yabulu nickel refinery, various slide shows of Charters Towers history with voiceovers, and a new video of the Pajingo gold mining operations.
AusIMM North Queensland committee member Jim Morrison (pictured left) said videos and slide shows of other mines would certainly be lying around in readers’ archives looking for a home.
For example, a video was known to exist from the 1980s-90s MIM/Haoma Ravenswood operations and a video from the early days of Battle Mountain at Pajingo may also be available, he said.
Mr Morrison said the museum was particularly looking for any digital or video material on the Thalanga, Highway-Reward, Hadleigh Castle, Mount Carlton, Wirralie, and Mount Coolon sites as well as other mines and any related exploration projects.
“A display is also planned for surveyor Dennis Larsen’s plane table, alidade and other gear recently donated by his widow Jan Schirmer,” he said.
Image at top of page: Surveyor Dennis Larsen at work.
“This survey equipment was used for the initial mine blast surveys on the top of Mount Leyshon when the 3 million ounce gold mining operation commenced in 1986.
“In pre-GPS and 3D computer days, this provided timely and accurate survey data for mine planning and grade control.”
He said Zara Clark Museum site coordinator Cindy Sesak was also applying for grants to record people’s local mining-related experiences for the historical record.
He is urging people to let Ms Sesak know of likely contacts at zaraclarkmuseum@nationaltrustqld.org or by phoning 0424 389 005.
“A recording of historian Don Johnson’s 1990 lecture on the early history of Charters Towers has already been obtained, and tapes of former Venus battery manager and historian Henry Weare’s recollections from the 1980s may be available,” he said.
Although it would require Queensland Government approval, Mr Morrison said the museum was also hoping to add a local portal to display the 3D survey and digital photographic data compiled by the State’s Charters Towers shaft repair program since 1996.
There are also opportunities to add interactive 3D displays of various historic digital mine models.
The AusIMM North Queensland branch marks its 50-year anniversary in 2025.
Mr Morrison said a visit to see progress at the Zara Clark Museum was being planned for mid-year in addition to events in Townsville which would be advertised at https://www.ausimm.com/communities/branches/north-queensland/.
