Mount Isa
Often labelled Australia's premier mining city, Mount Isa is a unique and progressive city in the heart of North-West Queensland. Once a raw frontier town built around the city's famed and vast mineral resources, Mount Isa has grown into a thriving industrial and commercial centre renowned for its welcoming nature, modern conveniences and increasingly cosmopolitan ambience. Known worldwide as a top international producer of copper, silver, lead and zinc, the economy of Mount Isa is largely driven by the mining industry. With mining giant Xstrata investing heavily in the region in recent years, Mount Isa boasts the world's largest silver and lead mine and the country’s biggest copper mine. In addition to mining, Mount Isa also enjoys a high level of employment and economic output across the following industry sectors:
- construction and manufacturing
- retail trade
- agriculture
- electricity, gas and water supply
Mount Isa is also positioned as a major regional services and supply hub for North-West Queensland, with a number of government, commercial and corporate organisations now permanently based in the city.
Source: Department of State Development, Trade and Innovation 2007
- *Australian Bureau of Statistics 2009; Mount Isa Local Government Area
Mount Isa at a glance
- Population:
- 21,838*
- Location:
- 24 hour drive or 2 hour flight north-west of Brisbane
Facilities:
- 1 domestic airport
- 1 hospital
- 2 major shopping centres
- City Library
- 5 major bank branches
Key Events:
- Xstrata Mount Isa Mining Expo (March)
- Mount Isa Show (June)
- The Isa Rodeo – the largest rodeo in Australia (August)
- RM Williams Country Muster (September)
