Mount Isa, Queensland

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Mount Isa is a city and Local Government Area located in North-West Queensland, Australia in the tropics. It came into existence for the single reason that underneath it and around it there are vast mineral deposits to be extracted. Mount Isa Mines is arguably the most productive single mine in world history – based on combined production of lead, silver, copper and zinc.

The city can be said to have come into existence soon after 1923 when John Campbell Miles discovered a rich seam of silver-lead on the western edge of the Cloncurry field. Copper and zinc are also mined. Copper, lead and silver are smelted on site, with anodes and zinc concentrate being transported 900 km to the city and port of Townsville on the east coast. The mine is the most significant landmark in the area, with the stack from the lead smelter (built 1978), standing 270 m tall, visible from all parts of the town.

The Mount Isa City Council administers an area of 42 904 km², and the town of Camooweal, located 188 km to the west, is in fact a 'suburb' of the city. Mount Isa once laid claim to being the largest city in the world by area, with a listing in the Guinness Book of World Records. This is despite the fact that both the cities of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and Chongqing, China are considerably larger.

With a population of around 20,000 (ABS June 2003 estimate), Mount Isa is a significant administrative centre for the region, with excellent amenities and facilities. Although situated in an arid area, the artificial Lake Moondarra to the north provides both drinking water and an area for watersports. The city is also famed for its Isa Rodeo and Mardi Gras street parade.

The city is served by 'The Inlander' QR passenger train which travels overnight to Townsville twice a week in each direction. The train offers twinette, roomette, triple bunk and coach accommodation, and has a club car for movies and food.

The City is also served by Mount Isa Airport which has regular daily services to Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns, with other services to many remote Outback communities in the western Queensland area.

Mount Isa has two high schools - Spinifex State College and Good Shepherd Catholic College. Spinifex State College has three main campuses - junior (8-10), senior (11-12) and residential (a boarding campus). The residential campus of Spinifex College is unique in the fact that it is the only State-run boarding-type school in Queensland.

Despite Mount Isa's remoteness, it is not deprived of the arts. The local theatre group, Mount Isa Theatrical Society, often holds plays and musicals. Also the Mount Isa Friends of the Theatre holds a musical every two years. The Friends of the Theatre is currently in rehearsal for the musical Grease. It is famous amongst locals for its past productions of Les Miserables (2003), and The Pirates of Penzance (2004). Mount Isa also has a string orchestra and a concert band. These two groups will be combining in 2007 to do a band tour, but the destination is yet to be decided.