We arrived in Mount Isa this morning soon after ten and found the Information Centre, acquiring a list of caravan parks and a handful of other useful information. The Argylla Tourist Park is situated on the eastern edge of the city, rural on one side and shielded from the town and all that goes with that on the other side by a hillock of rock. We chose this above the other three parks because the three big signs as we approached the city had cleverly won us over. So far we have not regretted the choice.
The journey through to Mount Isa was quite wonderful this morning. We travelled through rugged red hills, climbing up into the Selwyn Range, and then came upon the city laid out in front of us at 356 metres ASL. The first impression was as if we had simply arrived at a great open cast mine, no more and no less.
In fact that is what Mt Isa is, but it is also a city of about 23,500 people. It is dominated by the sprawling Xstrata Mount Isa Mine with its 270 metre exhaust stack from the lead smelter. Xstrata Mount Isa Mine is the nation’s deepest underground mine and is still the largest single producer of copper, silver, lead and zinc in the world. This record will not last for too long; the Olympic Mine in South Australia, currently in its planning and consent stages, will dwarf even this mining operation.
In fact that is what Mt Isa is, but it is also a city of about 23,500 people. It is dominated by the sprawling Xstrata Mount Isa Mine with its 270 metre exhaust stack from the lead smelter. Xstrata Mount Isa Mine is the nation’s deepest underground mine and is still the largest single producer of copper, silver, lead and zinc in the world. This record will not last for too long; the Olympic Mine in South Australia, currently in its planning and consent stages, will dwarf even this mining operation.
After setting up camp and having lunch, amid the company of a dozen noisy Apostle birds, we set off back into town to find a garage to undertake the 140,000 kilometre service on the land cruiser. The Toyota dealer was happy to oblige; they could book us in early November and it would cost about $1,000. Reeling from shock, we thanked them for the information and backed out, before checking out the next name on the list. The vehicle is now booked in for a service at a price nearer 50% of Bell & More’s quote, at MAS Mechanical at 8.30 am tomorrow. We will set the alarm.
No comments:
Post a Comment