Cloncurry - QLD

Cloncurry is a rural town, which derives its main income from the mining and pastoral industries. The town itself is nestled on the banks of the Cloncurry River. Chinaman Creek Dam, situated approximately 3km from the town centre, provides the town’s water supply. Many residents supplement household supplies during the summer months with private bores. The Cloncurry River catchment area begins in the Selwyn Ranges and flows into the Flinders River where it continues onto empty into the Gulf of Carpentaria. The average annual rainfall is 500mm. With the heaviest falls being experienced between December and March. Cloncurry is noted for having Australia’s highest recorded temperature in 1889 (53.1*C).

Cloncurry is 375km from Normanton and along the way are many interesting and popular attractions, with worthy stops at Burke & Wills Roadhouse, a diversion out to Gregory River or Lawn Hill National Park, Mt Isa and finally Quamby just 43km north of "Clony".

Cloncurry, like Karumba, Normanton and Burketown on the Gulf, traces its European heritage back to the days of the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, which passed this way in 1861 and named the Cloncurry River. There are a number of monuments to these explorers around the town.

Cloncurry has one of the world's biggest copper mines - the Great Australia Mine (not open to the public). Other mines and relics are at Mary Kathleen Memorial Park and Museum. There are 2 museums dedicated to the the RFDS since this important operation was founded in Cloncurry. It's a good base to explore the area and is within distance for a return day trip to Mt Isa.