The Emuford Battery, North Queensland: a study in survival

[Extract] The Emuford Battery crushed tin ore in the hinterland of Cairns, far north Queensland, between 1911 and 1985. It remains virtually intact, and is a museum of late nineteenth century and early twentieth century milling\ud technology. Historic mill sites with such a high degree of intactness are uncommon, as most have been reduced to a few scraps of rusting metal. Discussed in this paper is the\ud history of the mill, its physical characteristics and the ways in which the plant was modified over time and suggestions as to its remarkable state of preservation. Of these, the most important were: ownership by members of one family for much of its existence; the willingness of the State government to preserve it during periods when tin\ud mining was not viable; and the poverty of the district that made modernisation of the plant too expensive. Finally, the heritage movement of recent years that has led to greater public recognition of mining heritage and conservation has ensured the battery's survival following the demise oftin mining in the district in 1985