Community & Business
9 September, 2026
Happy 125th birthday to Mt Garnet
FROM becoming the second biggest inland town in Queensland, to having only nine students at its school, the boom, bust and boom again resilience of Mt Garnet is something to celebrate – and it is sure planning a party.
This month the Great Garnet Get-Together will mark 125 years since the town and school were officially opened in 1901; 50 years since the official opening of the Mt Garnet pre-school and 100 years of the local branch of the QCWA.
In the two weekends of the September school holidays, and with plenty to see in between, Mt Garnet will tell its story with history walks, bush dancing, picnics, music, art and craft displays, a “ghost” tour of the cemetery, gemstone displays, and much more.
“We’re hoping to attract past pupils and former residents to share memories and the good times, as well as our community and our regional neighbours,” said Heather Payne, coordinator of a team of local volunteers including the P&C, school staff, the Progress Association, QCWA and others.
The first weekend, 18-20 September, would focus mostly on the school, she said, with a meet-and-greet barbeque at the Mt Garnet Golf Club on the Friday night, followed by tours of the school, displays – including a schoolroom from yesteryear, a concert, a roll call, cake cutting and afternoon tea.
Later that night, a Bush Dance will be held at the Town Hall, with music by DJ Alex. On Sunday, there will be an ecumenical Church service at the park, followed by a Bush Poetry session and a Bush sports day, with a picnic lunch.
The second weekend of celebrations, 25-27 September, begins on Friday night with a Ghost Walk through the cemetery and a supper and live music at the town hall.
The Mt Garnet Visitors Centre will be holding a gem and mining display through Saturday, as well as digital photo displays. Past preschool pupils and some of the original teachers will also celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Saturday night brings an event highlight, with a licensed dance and supper at the Town Hall.
“Music will be provided by the popular band Careless, led by past pupil, Colleen Sheppard, and attendees are welcome to dress according to any era,” Ms Payne said.
On Sunday, displays will still be open for viewing and informal games of backyard cricket and touch footy will be on for young and old.
Throughout the week, self-guided historic walking tours are available, and the Visitors Centre will run an ongoing digital and historic display. There will also be art and craft displays and bingo at the CWA Hall.
A final function for the celebrations will happen on 3 October when the QCWA local branch celebrates 100 years in Mt Garnet doing what it does best – displaying handiwork and serving up a delicious brunch at the CWA Hall.
A history snapshot of Mt Garnet
Albert Vollenweider discovered copper in the area 1882 and the township began after John Moffatt of Irvinebank floated the Mt Garnet Freehold Copper and Silver Mining Company in 1899, and the smelters were “blown in” in 1901.
Some 1800 men worked in the open-cut mine and smelters, and Mt Garnet briefly became the second largest inland town in North Queensland.
Camels were initially used to carry the copper matte, before rail was introduced in 1902.
The town grew along the banks of Return (Nanyeta) Creek and boasted a hospital, school, six hotels, six stores (including Jack & Newell’s), a butcher, baker, bank and Chinese market gardens.
The Education Department built a school, with the first children enrolled in February, 1901.
In 1903, copper dwindled, and the smelters closed. However, alluvial and lode tin mining continued, and rich wolfram deposits were discovered.
Town population decline was exacerbated by WWI, when many young men joined up to fight (and die) overseas. By the early 1920s, there were only nine children at the school.
New machinery and motor vehicles meant a new lease of life for the tin mining industry. A small bucket dredge was built and began work in Return Creek in 1928. Others followed and they operated for almost 60 years, dredging the alluvial tin from Return, Smith, Battle and Nettle Creeks.
By the 1970s, there were 400 men (and their families) living and working for the two dredging companies and approximately 200 children enrolled at school.
But in the 1980s, a worldwide slump in tin prices led to the collapse of the Australian tin industry, and many were forced to seek work in other mines.
Despite dire predictions that Mt Garnet would become a ghost town, it continues with a population of 532 according to the 2021 Census.
Reference: “Memories of Mount Garnet” 3rd Edition 2017
