Thorntons Gap facts for kids
Thorntons Gap is a special place in the Hervey Range in North Queensland, Australia. It's a historic spot where an old walking track crossed the mountains. This track was super important because it helped people get to the goldfields a long time ago.
History of Thorntons Gap
In the 1860s, Townsville was a very lonely place. There were hardly any roads connecting it to other towns. Far away, mining camps started to appear along the Burdekin River. People needed a way to reach these camps.
Old Walking Tracks
To get to the mines, people used trails. These trails often followed ancient walking paths made by Indigenous Australians. One of these paths went over the Herveys Range, west of Townsville. It was a steep path but people could use it. This track led to important gold areas like Keelbottom Creek. It also went to the town of Dalrymple. The spot where this track crossed the range became known as Thorntons Gap.
A Long Journey to the Goldfields
Today, you can drive to the top of the range from Townsville in about 30 minutes. But back then, it was a three-day trip!
- Day One: Travellers would reach a small hotel by the Alice River. There was no running water, so people bathed in the creek.
- Day Two: The journey continued to the bottom of the range. Here, people rested at a place called the Range Inn. They needed to rest before tackling the tough track through Thorntons Gap.
- Day Three: Going up the range was very hard work. It took the whole day! Once at the top, the Eureka Hotel offered a welcome break. Today, this old hotel is known as the Herveys Range Heritage Tea Rooms.
