Mount Molloy, Queensland
| Mount Molloy Queensland | |
|---|---|
 Mount Molloy mine ruins | |
  Mount Molloy | |
| Coordinates | 16°32′S 145°20′E / 16.533°S 145.333°ECoordinates: 16°32′S 145°20′E / 16.533°S 145.333°E |
| Population | 276 (2006)[1] |
| Postcode(s) | 4871 |
| Location |
|
| LGA(s) | Shire of Mareeba |
| State electorate(s) | Cook |
| Federal Division(s) | Leichhardt |
Mount Molloy is a historic mining and timber town lying 160 kilometres north of Cairns. It is within the local government area of Shire of Mareeba (between 2008 and 2013, it was within the Tablelands Region). At the 2006 census, the town and surrounding area had a population of 276.[1]
History
At its height it was a copper mine in the 1890s. It was commonly used as camping grounds and Chinese market gardeners used to grow grain and other foodstuffs for the miners nearby.
A private railway was constructed to Mount Molloy, junctioning from the Cairns to Mareeba line at Biboohra, opening in August 1908. It was built by Mount Molloy Limited to serve its smelters. The line was transferred to Queensland Railways on 1 March 1917 following the liquidation of the company and was extended to Rumula on 5 December 1926. The branch closed on 1 May 1964.[2]
Mount Molloy was named after Patrick Molloy, an early teamster for a stock route and the person who discovered copper at what was to become Mount Molloy.
Today the dominant industry of Mount Molloy is now cattle grazing and consists of a few shops and an old hotel.
Geography
Nearby towns are Julatten, Mount Carbine and Mount Mulligan.
Quaid Road terminates south of Mount Molloy.
Heritage listings
Mount Molloy has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- Bakers Road: James Venture Mulligan's Grave, Mt Molloy Cemetery[3]
- cnr of Santowski Crescent and the Peninsular Development Road: JM Johnston's Sawmill (former) Steam Plant[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Mount Molloy (Mareeba Shire) (State Suburb)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ↑ The Rumula Branch Milne, Rod Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, October, 1993 pp243-248
- ↑ "James Venture Mulligan's Grave, Mt Molloy Cemetery (entry 15459)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ↑ "JM Johnston's Sawmill (former) Steam Plant (entry 31912)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 2013-07-14.