Mount Isa Copper

From the Film Australia Collection. Made by the Commonwealth Film Unit 1963. Directed by Antonio Colacino. The story of how Mount Isa was developed into one of the most prosperous mines in the world, producing lead, zinc, silver and copper. The story of the men and women who now live in Mount Isa and work the mines.

[@billmccarthy5920]

I was born in the Mt.Isa hospital the same year this film was made. My dad is working in that mine somewhere, he was a mechanical engineer. Excellent viewing.

[@BradGryphonn]

This was a great little history lesson. I lived in the Rockhampton area for many years and I remember early in my time there, my mother telling me how Mt Morgan was an important town when she was going to school in Brisbane. At one time it was the largest producer of Gold in the world and had the deepest open-cut pit at about a mile deep. Mt Morgan faded away but Mt Isa is still going strong today. This film impressed me because of that particular scene where the discoverer of the deposit was watching the miners heading to work. I'd bet very few of those blokes walking past knew who he was, and how important a man he was in their collective lives.

[@Elitist20]

John Campbell Miles lived till 1965. Mount Isa Mines actually had its own quarterly magazine, which we used to get at our school library in Sydney! I remember this issue with him on the cover, commemorating Mount Isa's 50th anniversary: nla.gov.au/nla.obj-305422179/view?partId=nla.obj-305431730#page/n0/mode/1up

[@tasd5673]

I thought the same thing then “blokes” wouldn’t have known who he was. The sad thing in some ways but all good for cokectiver

[@garyleigh]

Love these time capsules into how Australia looked.

[@jackthomson73]

Wow. I have lived in Mount Isa since 1983 and can’t believe the difference since this was made in 1963 and when I moved here. Still a great and unique place to live.

[@jackthomson73]

Edit. My name is Jack , this is my partner’s account. She’s been here even longer.

[@jackvaughan7577]

Worked in Mt Isa for nearly a year just at the end of the last century, smashing little town, earned good money in the mine Lovely to see this gem of a film Thanks Jack Vaughan Tipperary Ireland

[@gm16v149]

I worked there underground as a machine miner 1970-1973. I can still remember my pay number lol. Even from when the film was made in 1963 until 1970 there were big changes, for example the mine in 1970 went to 21 levels at 3,800’. We lived at the Star Gully camp in the middle of the railway loop, then later on the BSD camp, all since demolished apparently. I worked on the 14 and 15 levels and one of our jobs was putting a drive from K57 out to the A10S shaft, very poor ventilation as it was an extremely long drive with no ventilation raise bore holes on the way out there. I can also remember those steam engines being stored at Cloncurry when they went to diesels. Took a lot of photos underground, would be a sackable offence nowadays I would imagine.

[@Hfh415]

Amazing History of Ausralia🇺🇸

[@ktkt9982]

Fascinating. I enjoy seeing the street scenes of the day very much aswell. Thank you for uploading.

[@NFSAFilms]

Our pleasure!

[@danrobinson572]

@@NFSAFilms great video thanks 🙏

[@danrobinson572]

@@NFSAFilms that town looks beautiful. I wonder if it looks like that today?

[@danrobinson572]

@@NFSAFilms any videos coming soon? It’s been 3 weeks now. Just wondering 💭.

[@Jim-ok9zi]

That was so interesting. I absolutely love these films. Looking forward to the next one👍

[@NFSAFilms]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@danrobinson572]

Yeah me too and I’m from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania in America 🇺🇸

[@amp279]

I grew up in '70's Sydney but I recall my mum using one of those station wagon prams hee he the days of big families, one just out, then not long later another in the oven hahaha, none of us was ever sour about helping take care of our smaller siblings, even so, we still had plenty of time outside to play, always told to be back by dinner time, good times.

[@lorenzomagazzeni5425]

Man, I love this films when Australia wa a no nonsense nation.

[@fullysickbrah2949]

As living in mount isa its very interesting to see how the town has changed and where it has come from, great film.

[@johnd8892]

Thanks for this vid . Always of interest. The drink vending machines at 5:41 were also on the platforms at Melbourne's Flinders Street Station for many years from at least the sixties. Price kept at sixpence then five cents every time I saw them, despite alternatives getting much dearer, So good value at the time. Although the orange fruit drink was probably just cordial.

[@NFSAFilms]

Yes - no actual oranges harmed in the making of this film!

[@AllanRoebuck]

And there was also one at Brunswick Street station in Brisbane in the 60s.

[@richardjoy5060]

I just love these old films,very informative but with a very outdated commentary! Thank you please keep them coming. 👏👏👏👏

[@skullandcrossbones65]

G'day, I'd like to see a remake of this so many years later. Mt Isa now 99 years. It would be nice to see a show covering it's 100 year history.

[@josephineoliver9499]

The old Isa has gone through a lot of changes since this was made; the post office across from the Isa Hotel is now one of those cheap shops and the post office is now located across from the Kmart shopping centre.

[@garydavo07]

A great doc. Truly inspiring

[@danrobinson572]

Very interesting video!

[@vinnywelsh]

Thanks for uploading! Really interesting.

[@lot6129]

I LOVE Australian Mining!

[@kizzjd9578]

Interesting to see for me, being a 30 year old from Townsville.

[@YoureNowOnTV]

Wow. Neat 😀👍

[@danrobinson572]

Copper theft is really big over here especially in my city of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania in America 🇺🇸

[@NathanChisholm041]

Same here in Australia.

[@danrobinson572]

That place is beautiful. I wonder if it looks like that nowadays?

[@lightningfun6486]

I don’t live in mt is a but the town and mines are doing ok 👍

[@jamied8678]

Apparently now you don't stop there unless you haven't got enough fuel to get to the next town

[@mrcats1249]

In 2008 a Queensland Health report found that more than 10% of children in Mount Isa had blood lead levels above World Health Organization recommendations. Ouch!

[@lot6129]

That's what 4-20 pies do to you....

[@GlitteryBobcatz]

In 2008, Mount Isa mines also didn’t have the restrictions on emissions and lead levels in the local town as they do today…

[@LLOOYYYDD]

interesting - news yesterday reported Glencore just sold a mine in NSW for $1.1bil - Big money in mining in Australia

[@yetizero5563]

FHD ?? 4K ??

[@yetizero5563]

NFSA Films FHD ?? 4K ?? спасибо

[@lot6129]

KODAK 120

[@doctorbohr1585]

At first I was expecting a film on 60s police work out thata way.

[@rirrid5662]

What's the color of a two cent piece? !

[@juneallan4903]

Wrong statement.Mount Isa water supply is from lake Moondarra.