Miners Memorial Mt Isa

A series of stakeholder workshops facilitated a comprehensive understanding of the project’s historical context, established critical parameters, and delineated constraints. These collaborative sessions were instrumental in refining the project’s locational strategy, functional objectives, spatial qualities, and material selections.

Most importantly, the purpose of the memorial will be to create a respectful place that honours those who have lost their life, while providing support families and friends left behind.

The memorial will further provide a place for mourning, pride, contemplation, or celebration. It is also an opportunity provide an interpretive space as well as reflect on the advancement of mining over time to recognise the improvements in safety. It was agreed that the memorial should also have an area which lists out the names and dates of mining deaths.

There is still work to be done to resolve the detail of information to be provided, reaffirming that need for sensitivity, respect, and permission from families of those who have passed. The geographical extent that the memorial covers requires further clarity, however the various zones allow the history to be interpreted at various locations.

The memorial is to be constructed of local materials and that the memorial be ‘of the region’. Ideas provided by the groups suggested that material selection could reflect the products mined locally in addition to locally milled timbers and quarried stone. All material suggestions were based on selections being timeless, hard wearing, vandal proof and low maintenance.