Silver Valley, Queensland

The Wild River forms the western boundary of the locality.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=10 October 2024 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

Although historically part of Silver Valley, the now-abandoned township of Coolgarra is just within the current boundaries of neighbouring Mount Garnet ({{Coord|-17.57434|145.19751|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=Coolgarra (former township)}}).{{Cite web |last=Geological Survey of Queensland |title=Coolgarra Mine Map Provisional |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coolgarra_Mine_Map_Provisional.jpg |access-date=10 October 2024 |publisher=Queensland}}{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Land parcel |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=10 October 2024 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

The Kennedy Highway enters the locality at its south-eastern corner (Millstream) forming part of its southern boundary before passing through the south of the locality and then exiting to the south (Innot Hot Springs).{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Railways; Railway stations |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=10 October 2024 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

The locality is mountainous, rising from an elevation of {{Convert|650|m}} in Bulldog Gully in the south of the locality through to numerous peaks in the locality (from north to south):

• Middle Ridge ({{coord|-17.4110|145.3014|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Middle Ridge}}) {{convert|1108|m}}
• Mount Clotten ({{coord|-17.4181|145.3014|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Clotten}}) {{convert|1079|m}}{{cite QPN|7491|Mount Clotten|mountain in Tablelands Region|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Mount Nolan ({{coord|-17.4282|145.2719|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Nolan}}) {{convert|970|m}}{{cite QPN|24454|Mount Nolan|mountain in Tablelands Region|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Breccia Hill ({{coord|-17.4482|145.2859|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Breccia Hill}}) {{convert|837|m}}{{Cite web |date=12 November 2020 |title=Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/06ff12a9-862e-4aac-bf9d-693f0a63b4c9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125215033/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/06ff12a9-862e-4aac-bf9d-693f0a63b4c9 |archive-date=25 November 2020 |access-date=25 November 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}
• Hammer Hill ({{coord|-17.4505|145.3006|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Hammer Hill}}) {{convert|973|m}}
• Mount Lancelot ({{coord|-17.4513|145.2730|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Lancelot}}) {{convert|928|m}}
• Mount Klaatsch ({{coord|-17.4600|145.3014|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Klaatsch}}) {{convert|1026|m}}{{cite QPN|18333|Mount Klaatsch|mountain in Tablelands Region|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Mount Missler ({{coord|-17.4676|145.2958|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Missler}}) {{convert|988|m}}{{cite QPN|22320|Mount Missler|mountain in Tablelands Region|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Perrots Knob ({{coord|-17.4695|145.2861|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Perrots Knob}}) {{convert|916|m}}{{Cite web |date=12 November 2020 |title=Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/06ff12a9-862e-4aac-bf9d-693f0a63b4c9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125215033/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/06ff12a9-862e-4aac-bf9d-693f0a63b4c9 |archive-date=25 November 2020 |access-date=25 November 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=Queensland Government}}
• Mount Port Arthur ({{coord|-17.5968|145.2248|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Port Arthur}}) {{convert|915|m}}{{cite QPN|27343|Mount Port Arthur|mountain in Tablelands Region|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Mount Wilson ({{coord|-17.6082|145.2322|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Wilson}}) {{convert|790|m}}{{cite QPN|37617|Mount Wilson|mountain in Tablelands Region|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Mount Gibson ({{coord|-17.6362|145.2083|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Gibson}}) {{convert|842|m}}{{cite QPN|13688|Mount Gibson|mountain in Tablelands Region|access-date=25 November 2020}}

The land is relatively undeveloped apart from some areas now laid bare as the result of mining. The land use is predominantly grazing on native vegetation. Most of the residential use is along the Wild River in the south-east of the locality.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Protected areas and forests; Land use |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=10 October 2024 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

File:Newellton 20 Chains To An Inch Mine Map Provisional, 1965.jpg

File:Coolgarra Mine Map Provisional.jpg

James Venture Mulligan is credited with the first discovery of silver at Silver Valley in 1880.{{Cite web|url=https://eachamhistorical.org/local-history/|title=Pre-Settlement History|publisher=Eacham Historical Society|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=3 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103235647/https://eachamhistorical.org/local-history/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/discovery/display/92072-james-venture-mulligan|title=James Venture Mulligan|website=Monument Australia|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=3 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103170238/http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/discovery/display/92072-james-venture-mulligan|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42581770|title=1880|date=28 April 1948|newspaper=Cairns Post|issue=14,398|location=Queensland|page=5|via=National Library of Australia|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126122346/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/42581770|url-status=live}} By 1883, outcrops of silver, lead and galena had been found in the area and it was named Silver Valley and mining commenced.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71311350|title=SILVER VALLEY|date=15 September 1947|newspaper=The Worker|issue=3139|location=Brisbane|volume=58|page=13|via=National Library of Australia|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126122415/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71311350|url-status=live}} It was also known as Newellton after a pioneer family. However, while the silver mines were initially productive (one yielding up to 150 ounces of metal per ton), after a few years the silver lode was exhausted and the mines abandoned.{{Citation|title=Up the Palmerston : a history of the Cairns hinterland up to 1920. Volume 2|url=http://www.northqueenslandhistory.com/pdf/up-the-palmerston-volume2.pdf|publication-date=2008|author1=Rimmer, Michael Albert|page=174|publisher=Mike Rimmer|isbn=978-0-646-50093-5|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=8 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408031656/http://northqueenslandhistory.com/pdf/up-the-palmerston-volume2.pdf|url-status=live}} However, in 1895, three prospector George Harrod discovered two rich lodes of tin and, with Hammond and White, established the Lancelot mine and, with Hammond, White and Daniels, established the Hadleigh Castle mine.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79319987|title=The Metal Market.|date=1 February 1893|newspaper=The North Queensland Register|page=36|via=National Library of Australia|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126122347/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/79319987|url-status=live}} In 1899 a German company (the German Lancelot Tin Mining Company) purchased the Lancelot Mine{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42942641|title=German Launcelot Tin Mining Co.|date=22 August 1900|newspaper=Morning Post|issue=7|location=Cairns, Queensland|volume=10|page=2|via=National Library of Australia|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126122346/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/42942641|url-status=live}} and proposed naming the area Lancelot after the mine and later proposed to establish a new town called New Frankfurt (although there is no evidence that this occurred). However, the German company did build a dam and a 5-head battery. However, by 1910 the lodes were exhausted and diamond drills were used to search for new lodes, but without success. In 1911 the mines were sold to John Moffat.{{Cite web|url=http://www.trc.qld.gov.au/anzac-trail-places/lancelot-mine/|title=Lancelot Mine|date=20 April 2015|publisher=Tablelands Regional Council|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=3 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103184309/http://www.trc.qld.gov.au/anzac-trail-places/lancelot-mine/|url-status=live}} However, the popular story is that the Germans operated the mine up until the start of World War I whereupon they suddenly disappeared overnight, but this story reflects the anti-German sentiment in response to World War I rather than actual events.

Coolgarra Provisional School opened on 29 April 1901. On 1 January 1909, it became Coolgarra State School. In July 1916, it became a half-time provisional school in conjunction with Lower Nettles Provisional School (meaning a single teacher shared between two schools). However, Lower Nettles closed later in 1916 and Coolgarra was again a full -time state school. Coolgarra State School closed in 1934.{{Citation |author1=Queensland Family History Society |title=Queensland schools past and present |publication-date=2010 |edition=Version 1.01 |publisher=Queensland Family History Society |isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}} The school was on a {{Convert|3|acre|adj=on}} site bounded by Mary, Elma, Lucy and Elsie Streets ({{Coord|-17.56621|145.19726|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Coolgarra State School (former)}}), now within the boundaries of present-day Mount Garnet.

Lancelot Provisional School opened in 1905 but closed in 1906 when insufficient students enrolled. It reopened circa 1920 and closed in 1926. It was on {{Convert|2|acre|adj=on}} site on the eastern side of Silver Valley Road ({{Coord|-17.45170|145.28883|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Lancelot Provisional School (former)}}).{{Cite web |date=1965 |title=Newellton 20 Chains To An Inch Mine Map Provisional |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Newellton_20_Chains_To_An_Inch_Mine_Map_Provisional,_1965.jpg |access-date=10 October 2024 |publisher=Queensland Government |type=Map}}{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Road and rail; Land parcel; Watercourse; Mountains |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=10 October 2024 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

Despite the apparent cessation of mining in the area, Silver Valley was described in 1912 as being "rich in minerals" with "beautiful scenery, fishing and shooting". The Silver Valley Hotel (licensee James Ramsay) could provide accommodation for 20 people for 6/- per day or 30/- per week.{{Citation|title=Hotel & boarding house directory of the principal cities, towns, and tourist resorts in Queensland|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18110811|publication-date=1912|edition=2nd|publisher=Queensland Government Intelligence and Tourist Bureau|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=3 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103165943/http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18110811|url-status=live}}

Like most old mines, there are occasional flurries of renewed activity whenever there were prospects of poorer ore lodes being profitably mined, usually in response to rising metal prices or more efficient extraction technologies, but generally such mining is short-lived as it is extremely price-sensitive.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147990666|title=MINING.|date=13 April 1921|newspaper=The Northern Herald|access-date=3 January 2017|issue=419|location=Queensland, Australia|volume=XXXIII|page=28|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126122347/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/147990666|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article148875799|title=HERBERTON MINING.|date=11 June 1924|newspaper=The Northern Herald|access-date=3 January 2017|issue=584|location=Queensland, Australia|volume=XLV|page=50|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=26 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126122347/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/148875799|url-status=live}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Silver Valley had a population of 144 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC32591|name=Silver Valley (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Silver Valley had a population of 145 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL32566|name=Silver Valley (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

Silver Valley has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Coolgarra Battery, Coolgarra Station ({{coord|-17.5729|145.2065|region:AU-QLD_type:landmark|name=Coolgarra Battery}}){{cite QHR|16528|Coolgarra Battery|601791|accessdate=14 July 2013}}

There are no schools in Silvery Valley. The nearest government primary schools are Mount Garnet State School in neighbouring Mount Garnet to the south-west, Irvinebank State School in neighbouring Irvinebank to the west, and Herberton State School in Herberton to the north-east. The nearest government secondary schools are Herberton State School (to Year 10) in Herberton, Ravenshoe State School (to Year 12) in Ravenshoe to the east, and Atherton State High School (to Year 12) in Atherton to the north-east.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=10 October 2024 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Cite book|title=Monograph on the geology and mining features of Silver Valley, Herberton, North Queensland, Australia|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12516526|publication-date=1900|author1=Stirling, James|publisher=Lancelot Freehold Tin & Copper Mines}}
• {{cite news |date=13 January 1883 |title=DRY RIVER SILVER MINES. |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3413903 |newspaper=The Brisbane Courier |location=Queensland, Australia |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=XXXVII |issue=7,802}} — provides a description of Silver Valley in 1883
• {{cite book |last=Maitland |first=Andrew G. |title=Coolgarra tin mines and surrounding district : report |date=1891 |publisher=Queensland Government Printer}} — via [https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/11l3i0/alma99183453216002061 State Library of Queensland]

{{Commons category-inline|Silver Valley, Queensland}}

{{Tablelands Region}}

Category:Tablelands Region

Category:Localities in Queensland