Smelter Site

The Smelter Site at Mount Perry is the site of the Mount Perry Smelter originating in 1872, now only the slag heaps remain. Mount Clara Smelter Chimney is the oldest remaining smelter chimney which was built the following year. The edge of the slag heap is viewable from the road but is fenced off from accessing below ... Read more

The edge of the slag heap is viewable from the road but is fenced off from accessing below the heap. A walkway starts off as a ramp with stairs towards the end leading to the top of the slag heap where you can walk around the top of them.

Shelter in the middle of the Mount Perry Smelter Site slag heap

The slag heaps are formed in tile-like pavers that look like they have been laid on purpose. At the edge of the slag heap, the cross-section is viewable showing the layers of copper slag.

Copper slag piles, creating an appearance of tiles

In the middle of the slag heap is a shelter with picnic tables and information boards providing some information about the smelter site and the Mount Perry Rail Line which enabled the copper to be transported through to Bundaberg , when the railway station was originally on the north side.

When the smelter closed in 1913, the operating company stripped the plant and site leaving little remaining. The copper slag was deliberately left as a monument to the historic site.

Brick rubble and rusted metal, remnants of the Mount Perry Copper Smelter

The slag heap is a by-product of copper production from copper ore, melted and re-solidified. When the copper ore is smelted, the molten copper forms at the bottom of the furnace and the impure material is drained off the top, which is the slag. The slag is then quenched with water and left to cool by the air, and the black colour forms from the ferrous sulphide in the slag.

The only other remnants there are some brick structures that are crumbling on the side of the slag heap.

Directions

From Gin Gin head north along the Bruce Hwy and turn left into Gin Gin Mount Perry Rd. Follow Gin Gin Mount Perry Rd for 50kms and turn right into Flora St after entering the town of Mount Perry. Follow Flora St for about 150m to reach the entrance of the Smelter Site located at the bend at the end of the street.

From Monto head south along the Burnett Hwy through Mulgildie for 33.3km and turn left into Monto Mount Perry Rd. Note that the brown signs for Langley Flat Provisional School

(500m up Cooks Rd) and Langley Flat School

(500m further along Burnett Hwy) are near this intersection. Follow Monto Mount Perry Rd, which is gravel for the first 33km or so, for about 59km to the end entering the town of Mount Perry. Turn left into Heusman St and continue for 500m and turn left into Flora St. Follow Flora St for about 150m to reach the entrance of the Smelter Site located at the bend at the end of the street.

From Gayndah head east along the Burnett Hwy for 11.7km, veering left to go straight ahead towards Mount Perry on Gayndah Mount Perry Rd. Follow Gayndah Mount Perry Rd for 56.3km and turn left into Flora St. Follow Flora St for about 150m to reach the entrance of the Smelter Site located at the bend at the end of the street.

From Ban Ban Springs head north along Burnett Hwy for 12.2km and turn off the highway on the right, which continues straight for about 100m before turn right into Gayndah Mount Perry Rd. Follow Gayndah Mount Perry Rd for 56.3km and turn left into Flora St. Follow Flora St for about 150m to reach the entrance of the Smelter Site located at the bend at the end of the street.

11 October, 2020

We visited Mt Perry today 11/10/20. We had a pleasant drive from Bundaberg and had a nice lunch at the local hotel. We visited the smelter site and drove around this lovely peaceful town. We then went back down the highway and looked at the old railway tunnel which is just a short distance off the highway. We had a lovely day and would certainly recommend a visit to Mt Perry as being very worth while.

Chris and Jenny Sorensen

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Summary

Directions