Chillagoe is a popular place to visit. As well as the world famous limestone caves and the fascinating geological features, Chillagoe offers an insight into the aboriginal and pioneering history of the region.

Things to do

Historical Chillagoe Smelter

The Chillagoe smelter operated in the early 1900s at which time, it was the centre of a thriving mining industry that brought wealth and development to the Chillagoe area. Chillagoe was established by William Atherton in the late 1880s, when deposits of copper, lead, silver, mica and gold were found in the surrounding areas. Most ore found around Chillagoe required smelting to extract the minerals, and at first, small blast furnaces were used to process the ore at the mine sites in the surrounding areas of Muldiva, Mungana and Calcifer. By 1901, the large innovative Chillagoe smelters had become operational. The smelter operated until 1943, treating 1.25 million tons of ore, yielding 60,000 tons of copper, 50,000 tons of lead, 181 tons of silver and 5 tons of gold. In 1950, most of the buildings and equipment were auctioned and the smelter and ruins are all that remain.

Chillagoe Caves (Mungana)

Guided tours of the caves are conducted daily, excluding Christmas Day. The tours take you through Donna, Trezkinn and Royal Arch Caves. Pompeii, Bauhinia and The Archway Caves are self guided. Donna Cave Tours run at 9am for 1 hour, Trezkinn Cave runs at 11am and go for half an hour, and Royal Arch Cave run at 1.30pm and go for 1 and a half hours. If you are going on the tour, please make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes during the tours, take your hat, sunblock and insect repellent for outside walking.

Other things to see

The Balancing Rock, Heritage Museum, Historic Courthouse and Police Station, Historic Post Office, Limestone Outcrops, Marble Quarry, Restored St Nicholas of Tolinteno Catholic Church, Night Observatory, The Weir and the Time Capsule Park.

History

In 1903, Chillagoe had a population of 723, which swelled to 1,600 in 1907. At its peak in 1917, Chillagoe had a population of about 10,000 with 13 hotels, 2 newspapers, and a hospital. In 1943 the smelters had finally closed. Electricity and sealed roads only came to Chillagoe in 1970. Today the population is approximately 150. This fluctuates with the Red Dome Gold Mine workers throughout the year.

The railway from Cairns to Kuranda and Mareeba was opened in 1893, becoming the first stage of a rail network that covered almost an 800 kilometre stretch that once extended beyond Cairns, serving much of the Atherton and Evelyn Tablelands, even as far as the Etheridge region.

On April 1st 1902 Chillagoe State School was officially opened and 93 children were recorded in the Attendance Register. Student numbers climbed to 180 in 1909, filling the little school to total capacity. The school attendance records have always reflected the operating level of the Chillagoe Smelter and local industries so when the Smelters finally closed in 1943, numbers at the school were 48 and have slowly shrunken to the average 25 to 35 that we have experienced over the past years. A new school was built directly across the road from the old, on 27th October 1977.

Getting here

By bus - Chillagoe Bus Service. Ph: 4094 7155

Bus leaves Mareeba every Monday, Wednesday & Friday. (Travelers must stay 2 nights until bus returns)

Self drive – from Atherton, drive towards Mareeba and just past Rocky Creek Memorial Park, turn left into Channel Road. Turn left at the T intersection and continue. Turn left onto Dimbulah Road, into Dimbulah and follow signs to Chillagoe. If coming from Mareeba, turn into Dimbulah Road, and follow signs to Chillagoe. Trip takes approx. 2 hours each way. Please note that there are still some sections of unsealed road. (please check with your vehicle hire company to make sure you are allowed to travel on unsealed roads as only a few allow their vehicles to be taken to this area)

Air - You may Charter a flight by Cape York Air  Ph. 4035 9399

Services

Fuel or Service Stations: yes
Food: Restaurants, Cafés, Takeaways – Restaurants, café with takeaways and another opening soon
Groceries : General Store
Pubs: Chillagoe Hotel
Police Station: Yes
M edical: Hospital
Information Centre: The Hub Interpretive Centre
RACQ Road Assistance: ?
Public Toilets: yes, at the Town Hall
Public Phone Boxes:
Post Office: Yes
Banking: Banks
ATMs ?
Accommodation Styles: B&Bs, Pub, caravan parks, Motel, self contained.

Images from top: Chillagoe Smelters, Chillagoe Caves, Marble Quarry, Balancing Rock.