Around the World
City Driving Tours
Centenary of Federation Heritage Sculpture Trail
WWII Photographic Display
Pioneer Cemetery
Charters Towers Cemetery
World Theatre
Charters Towers Folk Museum
The Miner’s Cottage
Historic Ambulance Centre
Excelsior Library
City Murals
Macrossan Bridge Flood Marker
Burdekin Weir
Bush Racing
Markets
Texas Longhorn Wagon Tours
Tors Drive-In Cinema
Discover the hidden treasures of Charters Towers. Purchase or hire an audio CD and map from the Visitor Information Centre and discover Charters Towers at your own pace. Visit places off the beaten track and hear stories from the old days.
Centenary of Federation Heritage Sculpture Trail
Discover some of our city's characters, such as Zelia Alexander, Annie Baggs and Francis Powel, through sculpture. Follow the trail made possible by some very talented local artists. There are currently 16 available for public viewing at 7 locations around the city. Pick up your Heritage Sculpture Trail brochure from the Visitor Information Centre.
The photographic display is in the foyer of City Hall and is open for viewing during business hours. This exhibit captures the activities that took place at the Charters Towers Aerodrome and the Breddan Airstrip during WW11.
The Pioneer Cemetery contains graves of those buried from 1872 - 1895 and gives insight into the hardships our pioneers faced during the goldfield days. Cemetery records are available for viewing at the Visitor Information Centre.
This newer cemetery, established in 1895, is the resting place for a number of interesting local characters including Jupiter Mosman who was one of the party that discovered gold at Charters Towers, Doctor Leonard Redmond who recognised dengue fever, Fredrick Pfeiffer owner of the rich Day Dawn PC Mine and James Kenniff who was the last bushranger in Queensland. Cemetery records are available for viewing at the Visitor Information Centre.
Built in 1891, the World Theatre was originally the Australian Bank of Commerce. Its name derives from when Charters Towers was the second largest city in Queensland and was affectionately referred to as “The World”. The building was converted in 1996 into a 660 seat performing arts theatre, two cinemas, restaurant, gift shop and public art gallery. It is here in 1902, that the Mosman Street Tragedy took place. Browse at your own leisure. Check with the friendly staff for details of the live shows, movie times, morning melodies and the local and touring exhibitions of art, sculpture, photography and more.
This National Trust owned and run museum houses a large collection of photographs, equipment and other memorabilia that reflect Charters Towers' golden past. Their friendly volunteers and staff are only too willing to share their special stories and demonstrate some of the equipment that is housed in this historic Burns Philp building, built in 1888. Ask for a demonstration of the flying fox – the Lampson Aerial Cash System from the old Pollards building. This is always a favourite. One of the most heard comments from visitors to the Charters Towers Folk Museum is “Oh, I remember that!” The collection is full of items guaranteed to bring back a lovely memory or two. Apart from these items there are other artifacts that will pull you into the drama and excitement that was Charters towers 135 odd years ago.
You will find this mini museum offering an experience set back in time located right in the city heart. The cottage is refurbished and decorated to show how the house would have looked at the start of the 20th century. Panning for real gold is great fun for children and adults alike and you are able to do just that at The Miner's Cottage. A free cup of tea or coffee awaits you on arrival.
This centre dates back to 1903 and was the first ambulance station outside Brisbane and covered a working area of almost 70,000 sq km – approximately the size of Tasmania. Here visitors can view a wonderful collection of old vehicles, uniforms and an enormous number of log books recording the cases treated by ambulance offers during the past 100 years. The centre is open on Sundays and at other times by appointment.
Browse through the restored Excelsior Library, formerly the Excelsior Hotel which burnt down in 1995. This fully air-conditioned building is also home to the Charters Towers and Dalrymple Archives Group. They are an active group continually gathering and uncovering the golden past of our city. If you have stories to share or need a mystery solved, this is the place for you. The Library is also home to the Excelsior Brass Band and the beginnings of the city’s art collection.
Discover some of Charters Towers’ local works of art at various places around the town. By far the largest mural is visible at the Arthur Titley Centre, but you can easily explore the others at the Civic Club, Centenary Park, Westpac Bank and McDonald’s Family Restaurant.
Just 15 minutes from Charters Towers on your way to Townsville, take a moment to pull over and check out the flood water heights of the mighty Burdekin River. You will be amazed.
Take a drive out to the Burdekin Weir. This is the source of our liquid gold – water. You will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of the mighty Burdekin River, which is the fourth largest Australian river by volume flow. The city’s water supply is pumped from the weir to the reservoir on Towers Hill. There is a large picnic area with BBQ facilities (wood fired). If you would prefer a spot of fishing, turn off to the left before the picnic area and travel approximately 1km to the Burdekin Water Park.
This region is famous for its bush hospitality and great bush picnic race meetings. To name a few, the Oak Park Races are in July, the Ewan Races in September, and the Pentland Races are in November. For more information refer to the Events Calendar.
Local Art and Craft markets will brighten up your weekend. Check out the Events Calendar for dates.
Horseshoe B Longhorns, just 10 kilometres from Charters Towers, has the largest herd of purebred Texas Longhorns in Australia. Learn some of the history of these iconic "wild west" cattle while listening to the clip of the hooves, the clink of the harness and the rhythm of the canvas covered wagon. Enjoy your Billy Tea and Smoko while the "gentle giant" draft horses are being harnessed and hitched to the wagon................something very few people get to experience in this modern age.
Take time out and watch a couple of flicks at our local Drive-In Cinema - one of only six (6) still operating in Queensland, and the longest operating in regional Australia (43 years). There are only 12 left in Australia. The Drive-In usually operates Friday, Saturday and Sunday, however for groups of 40 or more the Drive-In will arrrange special screenings on other nights. If enough notice is given the Drive-In will even attempt to fill special requests for a particular movie.
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