Day 3 Charters Towers

This morning was not too bad temperature wise. So I went off on my bike ride which took me right around the base of Tower Hill. I also rode around many of the streets of the town taking in the various homes and gardens.  Eventually, I rode back into the Caravan Park.

Soon after I was returned, we said farewell to Steve and Grace who have been our neighbours for the past few days. They were off to Clermont to a dam near there. We been in a few places they have and at the same time.

About the same time, our Kimberley Karavan colleagues, Don and Evelyn, walked over and met Prue for the first time. We arranged to meet at the Stock Exchange Cafe in town around 0930.

We drove into town and did a bit of a walk around and in some of the buildings we had not already seen. This included the display, in the City Hall, of WW II photos taken in the district.

Also we had a walk through the old Australian Bank building, now known as the World Theatre, where there was a further display and also entry into the Arts Theatre and cinema.

Stock Exchange Cafe is on the bottom right of the building.

There is no doubt here are some magnificent buildings in this town.








By now it was time for our cappuccinos. We met Don and Evelyn and enjoyed our coffees and chatted for more than an hour. It was so nice to learn more about the areas we come from as well as get to know each other better. We all said farewell as we all had things to do.

Prue had an appointment at the hairdresser so I walked with her. As she went to her appointment I wandered into Home Hardware in the hope of getting a key cut but with no luck. I then went to the CRT and Hardware. No luck there, too. I had to organise a script at the Chemist so that was done  and then I met up with Prue again.

We decided on an early lunch at the cafe, Stock Exchange Cafe, that we had been in earlier. Our lunch was absolutely delicious and again the coffee was exceptional. A pity I had not found this earlier.

After our lunch, we went to the Venus Battery tour at 1230. On arrival the guide, Malcolm, briefed us on the workings of the Battery and its previous owners.

Then we went into the building, that houses all the machinery, where we watched a display which I think is called holographic. It is amazing and the person depicted took us through the history and operation of the battery.

Then our guide walked us through the machinery further enlightening us on the process of gold extraction. This was by the use of mercury in the stamping process and also the cyanide process.

Each process is a dangerous operation.  The final part was another holographic display using a fine mist of water as the screen. An amazing display.







We returned to town where Prue did some grocery shopping while I picked up my script from the Chemist. Soon after we returned to the Caravan Park and started to pack some items away.

So we finished another interesting day in the "Gold Cit", Charters Towers.