Date: 7th July 2025
Travelled: 205 kms from Julia Creek to Mary Kathleen
Visited: Mary Kathleen Mine Site
Stayed: Mary Kathleen RV Campground, Free, S20.65600, E141.75655
Sitting with our new best friends in Julia Creek they suggested a visit to Mary Kathleen. We remembered visiting the Mary Kathleen Museum in Cloncurry in 2021. So rolling out of town leaving the ducks behind we set the GPS for what was the township of Mary Kathleen.
Thankfully the Flinders Highway improves west of Julia Creek. As we approach Conclurry the country changes from flat and relatively featureless to a series of low rocky ridges. Continuing on, the roads are even better, first passing lane weโve seen in 800 kms.
As weโve already had a couple of days in Cloncurry in 2021 we stop only for some discount fuel and continue west another 60 kms before turning off for Mary Kathleen.
A uranium deposit was discovered here in 1954, the site sold to Rio Tinto who contracted to supply the British Government with a uranium concentrate (yellow cake). Rio Tinto built the town suitable to house the 1,200 workers of Mary Kathleen 7 kms from the mine site. Including swimming pool, tennis courts, church and general store etc. The contract was concluded in 1963 and the site was mothballed until 1974 when a new contract was entered into to supply US and Japanese energy companies. The mine closed permanently when the ore was exhausted in 1982.
The town was expansive so thereโs plenty of room. Unintentional we find we have settled on a large concrete slab that once was the entry to the swimming pool. So the bikes come off and we cycle the 7 kms to the mine site. The road is a potholed mess, but surprisingly easy to navigate on our bike. We walk the last 500m which is the steepest and rockiest.
No point posting 10 phots of the mine site as they all look like a big hole in the ground. The water below is a beautiful blue but apparently leaves you glowing in the dark for a few weeks. Back in the Jayco we enjoy a quiet evening but a very chilly morning.
Once weโve thawed out its a relatively short drive on the Mount Isa.
Michael + Pam
One thought on “Mary Kathleen, Queensland ๐ฆ๐บ 2025”
You sure look glorious and happy ๐ are you sure you didn’t sneak in fot a swim there ๐ค