CHARTERS TOWERS

city, northeastern Queensland, Australia, in the upper Burdekin River basin. A gold boom, which began in the early 1870s, led to the founding of the town; its population reached a peak of 30,000 during the period. It was proclaimed a municipality in 1877 and a city in 1909. Worked continuously until World War I, the gold reefs were among the state's most productive. Silver, lead, and zinc were also mined in the vicinity. Situated along rail lines leading west-east from Mount Isa to Townsville and southeast to Brisbane (635 miles [1,020 km]), Charters Towers serves a district of fruit, grape, and vegetable cultivation and cattle grazing. Much of the old mining town has been preserved. Pop. (1991 prelim.) 9,017.