North Qld Mining History Assoc

The recent meeting of the local Mining History Association saw a rather disappointing turn out of members.  It was reported to the meeting that the historian Felicity Jack has begun recording the life story of the northern mining entrepreneur Mr Donald Walker.  The tale of Don's mining adventures should make a great addition to the recorded history of the north's more recent mining story.  Ivan Searston then gave a very interesting talk on the research into the very early tin mills about Herberton, in particularly the Monarch battery and the Herberton Tin Crushing & Smelting Company's plant.  As these enterprises were set up by mining people from Tasmania, it was interesting to learn of the importance of their attempts to use water power to run these mills of those early days.  It was also reported that the folk living at Milkmans Flats on the North Palmer River must vacate the mining lease they are on and there is some concern about the collection of artifacts in their small museum.  The meeting closed after a short discussion on a proposed geologic time-line walk project that is planed for the mining centre.  The next meeting of the Association will be held at the Herberton Mining Centre in November.