Seventy-five metres above sea level. That’s the height of Mount Perry. Today, we’re exploring the Mount Perry Conservation Park. It’s a place rich in history and natural beauty.
Mount Perry was named after Deputy Surveyor-General Samuel Perry. Colonial Surveyor James Burnett first sighted it. He named the mountain in 1847.
Before Europeans arrived, the Gureng Gureng people lived here. They are the traditional owners of this land. Shepherds grazed their sheep here in the 1840s. They came from large coastal properties.
Copper changed everything in 1869. Henry Dingle found copper ore. Prospectors rushed to Mount Perry. By 1871, Ebenezer Vickery had extracted over 1500 tons.
The town boomed. Five hotels were built by mid-1871. It was known as Fyfe-Barnett back then. Mount Perry became bigger than Mackay or Cairns. Some say the population exceeded 30000. The town reputedly had 21 hotels.
But fortunes can change quickly. Copper prices dropped in 1877. The town’s copper smelters closed. They reopened in 1884 giving the town a brief respite.
A railway line from Bundaberg arrived in 1884. It was a vital link to the coast. St Patrick’s Catholic Church was consecrated in 1904.
Disaster struck in 1914. The town’s economy collapsed. Some blame mistaken financial ventures. The smelters closed again in 1915. The railway closed down in 1960.
Today, Mount Perry is quieter. But it still holds treasures. The Mount Perry Museum displays the town’s history. The Boolboonda Tunnel is nearby. It’s the longest unsupported tunnel in the Southern Hemisphere.
Bushwalking is popular here. The track to the top of Mount Perry offers great views. Hoop pines and rainforest thrive. Wallabies, echidnas and koalas live on the mountain.
Mount Perry’s story is one of boom and bust. It’s a reminder of the power of natural resources. It’s also a testament to the resilience of its people. Take a moment to imagine those early miners. Envision the bustling town. Consider the lives lived here. They are all part of Mount Perry’s story. A story etched in the landscape.