Alluvial gold was found near the Etheridge River in 1869, giving rise to the town of Georgetown, where, by 1878, there was more than twenty hotels!

Now a pleasant, sleepy little town on the Etheridge River, Georgetown is surrounded by rich beef cattle country and some of the best gemstone areas in Queensland. It also boasts the Ted Elliott Mineral Collection.

Built in 1889, the Georgetown’s heritage listed “The Antbed House”, is currently undergoing what appears to be a very gradual restoration.

Being a very remote location, corrugated iron was a handy and economical building material in the early days.

Established in 1872 and reconstructed in 1913, the Georgetown Catholics also favored corrugated iron for their church building.

Whilst gold prospecting and gem hunting continues to this day, reminders of the heyday of gold mining are displayed in the parks and garden of Georgetown.

As part of the town park, opposite the Police Station, a space is allocated for the “Peace Garden” including a large bell, which is rung once daily reminding all of importance of peace in the world.

Approximately 20 kilometres west of Georgetown stands a lonely tall chimney beside a lagoon, where during the 1880s, the thriving gold mining town of Cumberland existed.