Mount Morgan - Places to See

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Mount Morgan - Places to See

Mt Morgan Visitors' Centre and Historic Rail Complex
At the northern end of town is the superb Mount Morgan railway station (1898) which is a charming timber building with a really beautiful porch entrance. It now operates as the visitors' centre and is the departure point for rail tours. A steam train service operates from Friday to Monday and fettlers' trolleys from Tuesday to Thursday (a fettler was responsible for checking on the condition of the rail and the sleepers and the trolley was their means of transport), tel: (07) 4938 2312.

The railway from the coast had to travel up a gradient of 1:16.5 at the Razorback outside the town and consequently a special ABT rack locomotive (the first in Australia) was purchased and a special toothed rack rail was built between the two normal rails so that the trains could get extra traction going up and down the hill. It is a portion of this toothed line which is displayed on the median strip in front of the museum in Morgan Street.

The Mine
The visitors' centre is also the place to make a booking for a tour of the old minesite, which has a number of important historical buildings within its boundaries. The assay chimney, the manager's house, the treatment plant and the mine offices are all extant and of historical significance. The tours occur daily at 10.30 a.m. and 1.00 p.m., tel: (07) 4938 1823 or check out: http://www.tmctours.com.au

The site can be accessed by turning west off the main road at the school and heading towards the huge waste ore dumps. The route is signposted with miner's pickaxes. However, the only meaningful access is by means of the tour.

Mt Morgan Historical Museum
This interesting folk and mining museum is located in Morgan St. Its contents reflect the mining history of the town and district. For more information check out: http://www.mountmorgan.org.au/museum.php

Running the Cutter
On the corner of Central St and Morgan St is a statue titled 'Running the Cutter' which recalls the interesting custom of buying beer in billy cans, commonplace at the mine between 1900 and 1918.

Courthouse
The other buildings in town of major historical importance are the courthouse (in Hall Street near the top of the hill above the main township) which was built in 1899. It is an example of the formal Classical Revival style which was fashionable at the time.

Suspension Bridges
On the Dee River, downstream from the road across the river to the mine, are two unusual swing or suspension bridges which were built in the 1890s to provide access from the town to the mine. In the 1890s there were a total of six suspension bridges across the river but four of them have disappeared.

Swing Bridge
Before crossing the Dee River to go to the mine there is a fading sign, declaring 'Swinging Bridge - 1/2 mile and 1 mile' (kilometres apparently haven't arrived yet). If you follow the road along the riverbank it will take you to the first swing bridge (one of the oldest constructions in the town) on your left. About 200 metres further on, and just downstream from another river crossing, is the other swing bridge which looks as though it is in a state of serious disrepair.

For more information of Mt Morgan's attractions check out: http://www.mountmorgan.org.au/

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