25 June - Mt Isa Tourist Spots

25 June 2016 – 176 012

Mt Isa Tourist Spots

Today started with a hike up to Ray Donaldson Memorial Lookout which provided a view over both Mt Isa and the countryside toward Cloncurry, and a lovely walk. 

Next stop was the Underground Hospital – this was built by the miners during World War 2 after Darwin was bombed in anticipation of air strikes on Mt Isa, but was thankfully never used. It included general wards, maternity and nursery wards as well as storage in three connected tunnels; and is directly next door to Mt Isa base hospital for quick evacuation. 

http://www.undergroundhospital.com/

Adjacent to this is a restored tent house – these had raised timber floors, a timber frame, canvas walls and roof underneath a second corrugated iron roof; Mt Isa had many of these through until the 1960’s. 

And then we went shopping on “Rodeo Drive”…. at the chemist, probably the only time I will shop on Rodeo Drive! 

This afternoons fossils were at the Riversleigh Fossil Centre which had a variety of megafauna – some animals that are very like their modern relatives, and some that are just plain strange.  Hayden had a great time uncovering a fossil in the sandpit using scoops and brushes. 
https://www.mietv.com.au/Outback-at-Isa/Riversleigh-Fossil-Centre.aspx

 After dinner we headed to City Lookout for sunset and a night view over the mine – it does look a bit like a ship at night with its funnels and multiple levels of small lights like portholes.