THINGS TO DO & SEE
in the Towers



Not your traditional museum, the Miner's Cottage Charters Towers is an opportunity to experience local history and hear stories of the goldrush. No two visits are the same.


The building itself is an authentic miner's cottage, refurbished and filled with history, and open to explore. But the building and artefacts are only part of the experience.


Be sure to purchase your scoop of river gravel and take the opportunity to learn the art of gold panning from an expert. Or take it a step further and hire a gold detector for the day.



Admission: Visit website for details.


Note on opening hours during Summary (Dec - Feb)

During the Summer months there are no set hours for The Miner's Cottage, however you can usually arrange for a group booking - even on the day - but please phone ahead to avoid disappointment. ​



Gold panning lesson & a chance to find real gold!



$5 per scoop (+ $5 entrance fee to the Cottage)



When you visit the Miner's Cottage you can purchase a scoop of river gravel and under Alan's guidance, you can pan it to try and find real alluvial gold.


Successful gold finders receive a complimentary “Miner’s Right” and you are able to keep the gold you find.


This is a very popular activity with both children and adults, equally for the activity itself and for the lesson from an experienced prospector.



Gold Detector / Relic Detector Hire with Tuition



$35.00 per day (8 hours) $50 (weekend)



As the saying goes, "There's gold in them there hills!" And nowhere is that more true than in Charters Towers.


Not just in days gone by either - in 2017 a 1.1763kg gold nugget was found in a field in Charters Towers.


If you fancy trying your luck, you can hire a Minelab gold detector. Alan will make sure you know how you use it and point you in the direction of places you are able to use it.



School Groups



Contact Alan for a quote



Keeping a class full of school children engaged in a history lesson isn't an easy task, but Alan's hands on activities and humour will keep them entertained.


Alan's knowledge of the Australian gold mining history and the role Charters Towers played in shaping Queensland, make for an interesting lesson.


And the learning is made memorable and interactive by panning for gold outside an authentic miner's cottage.



Blacksmith Services & Commissions



Contact Alan to enquire



Alan has a huge collection of relics at The Miner's Cottage and his Blacksmith skills have transformed these into works of art.


Recently he has been commissioned to produce a very large piece for a popular tourist attraction in Victoria. The piece is currently taking shape so stay tuned for details.


If you're looking to commission your own authentic artwork crafted by Alan, please contact him to make an enquiry.



Reviews of The Miner's Cottage





Anja Zuckerblond, Germany



"Thank you for not only informative but above all funny lesson in gold panning. We will now continue trying our luck on our world trip with the secret "housewives pan" ;-) Greets Anja and Nico from Germany!"



Shaneen Adami, Townsville



"We always try and get to the Miners Cottage when we come from Townsville for the kids AFL. Alan always has patience to teach the kids how to pan for gold. I always seem to see something new that I missed on previous visits. A must see when visiting the Towers."



Janine Featherstone, Townsville



"We had a great time today. I only wish I had visited sooner. Amazing authentic artifacts, town history and the gold we got panning, we got to take home. A truly unique experience."



Mark Hutchinson, Sydney



"We have just been AND FOUND GOLD!!!!! The owner Alan is awesome! Proper comedian! Up for taking photos and giving you the local knowledge. Highly recommended! Thanks Alan!"



Terrence Dalby



"Great collection of antiques and memorabilia, Alan’s passion and personality make a visit to the miners cottage an absolute must. You will walk away with an amazing experience that you will not find anywhere else. Highly recommended"



The Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence honors businesses that deliver consistently great service across the world. This designation is presented to approximately 10% of total businesses on TripAdvisor that have consistently achieved great reviews over the year.



Meet the owner of The Miner's Cottage



Alan Silverwood





Alan moved to Charters Towers from Cairns with his wife almost 30 years ago after he undertook survey work in the town.


Gold mining and mineral exploration is in Alan’s blood. His Father, who is now 100 years old and living in Echuca, operated an alluvial gold mine in central Victoria for many years. This meant Alan was gold mining from a young age.


Alan is passionate about history and loves sharing his knowledge of the Australian Goldrush and local history with visitors to The Miner’s Cottage.


When he’s not teaching people how to find gold, Alan enjoys digital photography and continuing to expand his knowledge of local history.



THE MINER'S COTTAGE





26 Deane St,
Charters Towers, Queensland 4820



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