McKinlay, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids McKinlay Queensland
The Landsborough Highway through McKinlay in 1962.
McKinlay Location in Queensland
Population	178 (2016 census)
• Density	0.01866/km2 (0.0483/sq mi)
Established	1888
Postcode(s)	4823
Area	9,537.9 km2 (3,682.6 sq mi)
Location	1,595 km (991 mi) NW of Brisbane 228 km (142 mi) SE of Mount Isa 108 km (67 mi) SE of Cloncurry
LGA(s)	McKinlay Shire
State electorate(s)	Traeger
Federal Division(s)	Kennedy
Localities around McKinlay: Cloncurry Julia Creek Kynuna Kuridala McKinlay Kynuna Selwyn Middleton Middleton

McKinlay is an outback town and locality in McKinlay Shire, Queensland, Australia. At the 2016 census, McKinlay had a population of 178.

History

McKinlay is named for the nearby McKinlay River—itself named for its European discoverer, the Scottish explorer John McKinlay who passed by the area in 1861. Gold was discovered in the area in 1872 and a letter receiving office was opened in 1883. The town was surveyed and allotments sold in 1888. The offices of the Shire of McKinlay were located in the town until 1930 when they were relocated to Julia Creek. Mackinlay Post Office opened on 1 April 1894 and was renamed McKinlay in 1909.

Today

McKinlay today is described as "nothing more a roadhouse, a few houses and a pub." The town is best known for the Walkabout Creek Hotel, featured in the movie Crocodile Dundee. BHP Cannington mine, Australia's largest silver and lead mine, is 85 kilometres (53 mi) west of McKinlay. The McKinlay pub has become a major tourism draw for the town and when put up for sale in 2010 attracted worldwide interest.

Facilities

McKinlay has Australia's smallest public library, park and a small museum

Images for kids

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  Walkabout Creek Hotel, 2013

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  Public library, smallest in Queensland, McKinlay, 2004

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  Inside McKinlay library