Charters Towers is a city and Local Government Area in northern Queensland, Australia. It is located 135 kilometres south-west from Townsville on the Flinders Highway.

The town was founded in the 1870s when gold was found in the area, and rapidly grew to become a regional centre. In the boom years, between 1872 and 1899, Charters Towers operated the only Stock Exchange outside of a capital city. During this period, the population was approximately 27,000, making Charters Towers Queensland's largest city outside of Brisbane. The City was also affectionately known as 'The World', as it was said that anything one might desire could be had in the 'Towers', leaving no reason to travel elsewhere.

However, most of the mines have now closed, and, although several new ones are currently operating, the population has sunk to about 10,000. The city is completely surrounded by the rural shire of Dalrymple which has its offices and works depots within Charters Towers.

More on [ Charters Towers, Queensland ]

NEWS.com.au | Queensland

Missing yacht search 'scoured wrong area'
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:56:00 -0000
SEARCHERS have changed their search area after spending two days looking in the wrong region for a missing yacht with two sailors on board because of a misunderstood coastguard report.
Elderly man dies waiting for bed
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:46:00 -0000
CLAIMS an elderly man died in a hospital corridor after waiting more than eight hours for a bed are being taken seriously, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said today.
Girl 'sexually assaulted in hotel'
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:16:00 -0000
A MAN has been charged after he allegedly forced a young girl into a hotel room and sexually assaulted her.
Patient dies waiting in hospital corridor
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:01:00 -0000
AN elderly man has died while waiting for a ward bed at Queensland's overcrowded Townsville Hospital after being left in a corridor for more than eight hours.
Woman with scissors scares off robber
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:24:00 -0000
A MAN armed with a knife grabbed an attendant during an attempted robbery of a Queensland convenience store overnight but fled when he was threatened with a pair of scissors.
Pilot, passengers survive chopper crash
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:40:00 -0000
A HELICOPTER has crashed near the Townsville Breakwater Marina, with minor injuries to the pilot and his three passengers.
Force of fatal smash snaps powerpole
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:44:00 -0000
A MAN was killed instantly when his out of control car snapped a power pole in half northwest of Brisbane last night.
Up to 60,000 overcharged for power
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:56:00 -0000
UP to 60,000 southeast Queenslanders could be affected by power billing errors, says the state's Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson.
Men 'scared drivers with machine guns'
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:13:00 -0000
THREE men have been charged after allegedly threatening motorists with replica machine guns north of Cairns.
MP confirms petrol station hospital food
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:09:00 -0000
QUEENSLAND Health Minister Stephen Robertson says he's concerned criticism of the state's health system has become a "national sport", after it was revealed an outback hospital sourced patient meals from a service station.

Subscribe to Queensland RSS feed