Kalkadoon

For thousands of years the ochre-red territorial sign of the emu foot marked the boundaries of a slice of Australia which is today's Isa Country. Running from north west to south east, about 130 kilometres in average width and 485 kilometres long, this tract of North West Queensland was inhabited by the proud and warlike Kalkadoon tribe.

In many ways they were the stone age forebears of the thriving cosmopolitan inhabitants of one of the world's great mining cities. From primitive factories in the rugged Selwyn-Argylla ranges they fashioned what anthropologist Frederick D. McCarthy calls, "the finest discoid axes in Australia".

These greenstone axes, along with stone knives and blades, lunga-lunga boomerangs, human-opossum-kangaroo and wallaby hair (in the rough), koolamons and shields, short woomera spears and long gidyea ones, flax twine, human hair belts, oppossum-string waist belts and ochre were the products of a remarkable trading nation. Their goods were so prized as to be found as far away as South Australia.

With thanks to Mount Isa City Council

Mount Isa

Surrounded by the beautiful Selwyn Ranges, Mount Isa is the mining, industrial and commercial capital of Northwest Queensland. To the South are the famous Birdsville Races while to the North, fabulous Lawn Hill Gorge and the Riversleigh fossils, barramundi fishing and wetlands at Burketown. The Mount Isa Rodeo attracts visitors from far and wide.

Lakes Moondarra and Julius supply water for Mount Isa business and domestic needs. These dams also allow recreational pursuits such as water-skiing, canoeing, picnics, swimming and great fishing for anglers.

Spinifex and eucalypts dominate the natural vegetation. River red gums provide cool shade along watercourses. Between the rugged Selwyn and other colourful, spinifex covered ranges are low open woodlands.

Location

Mount Isa city is the western gateway to Queensland. Just 200 kilometres from the Northern Territory border on National Highway 1. The city is 887 kilometres from Townsville, 1330 kilometres to Rockhampton and 1900 kms to Brisbane. Geographically speaking, Mount Isa is the world's largest city - 41,182 square kilometres!

Climate

Mount Isa has a great climate with an average of 9½ hours of sunshine a day and only 50 wet days a year! It has two distinct seasons - The 'wet season' - November to March with an average rainfall of 437 mm and the dry season.