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The history is just the beginning...
maytown
Maytown
Maytown was the main settlement on the
Palmer River Goldfields
and the discovery of
gold on the Palmer in the 1870s resulted in a
gold rush of about 30,000 people.
Maytown is in the middle of very rugged
country with its great conglomerate ranges and
on almost every one you can find evidence of
the hard work the early miners had to endure
to try to make their fortune.
Today there are several old relics and mining
equipment from the gold rush in evidence and
the area is proclaimed as an
Historic Reserve
.
Maytown is accessed from the Mulligan
Highway on the
White’s Creek Road
turn
off, approximately 65km north of Mount
Carbine. The unsealed road out to Maytown
is much improved but 4WD is advised and the
challenging
Old Coach Road
from Maytown
on to Laura should only be tried if you have
previous 4WD experience and preferably
with at least 2 vehicles in convoy. This route
is an interesting 4WD track coming out near
Jowalbinna, 45km north west of Laura.
Camping is prohibited in Maytown itself but
there is a designated camping site on the
north bank of the Palmer River.
Do not enter fenced off areas as all mine shafts
are dangerous.
You will need to be self sufficient and to obtain
a camping permit from QPWS in Cairns,
Cooktown or Chillagoe.
QPWS Chillagoe
(07) 4094 7163.
Old mining relics of the Maytown gold rush