Mount Isa Photography by Jemloco Images: Tent House Musuem {Mount Isa, NW Queensland}

Housing options for Mount Isa during the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's

Back in 1923, a rather intrepid and adventurous fellow by the name of John Campbell MILES rolled out his swag in the Leichhardt River to take a break on his trek to find gold in the Northern Territory. MILES had previously met up with William SIMPSON, and during their stay, they decided to do a bit of propecting to while the hours away before they were ready to move on.

It was during these fossicking follies that MILES found a large yellow/brown rock, that when cracked open was black and honeycombed it was also surprisingly heavy. Unable to find anyone who knew what this rock or mineral could be, he sent it off to the Government Assayer in Cloncurry. The reply came back that the sample was very high in lead and silver.

So begun, what is now know as Mount Isa Mines. MILES named his lease Mount Isa, and in 1924 he sold his lease to the fledgling Mount Isa Mines Ltd for 500 shares - worth around 10,000 pds. MILES sold off his shares over the years and by 1933 he sold the last of them.

MILES passes away in 1965 as a bachelor. In 1968 his ashes were interred under the Clock Tower on the corner of Miles Street and Rodeo Drive. ( see previous blog Rodeo Drive & Clock Tower)

Housing was scarce in Mount Isa after MILES' discovery of Lead and Silver. Men came in droves, and some brought their families with them. Accommodation was needed, and it was needed fast. Canvas was a fairly readily available product and so it was used to make "Tent Houses".

Each Tent House consisted of a narrow timber framed building, with canvas walls and roof. Above the roof and separate to it, was an iron roof supported by a light weight timber frame. In some instances solid boards or iron sheeting was used around the base the house as a dust control measure.

Most of the tent houses were demolished in the 1960's. In 1975 an application was made to the National Trust that the last remaining intact tent house be placed on the register. An agreement was made with Mount Isa City Council - the National Trust would purchase the house, and Council would be responsible for its maintenance.

The National Trust Tent House was once located on Fourth Avenue, it recently was relocated to its current position at the Beth Anderson Museum and Underground Hospital.

The Tent House, Museum and Underground Hospital are open during the cooler months of the year (April to September) and run by a dedicated team of Volunteers, it really is worth a visit, whether you are a traveller to town or local.

{Beth Anderson Museum blog can be found here}