West Coast Heritage Centre, Zeehan

31/08/2026

31/08/2026

Mineral Monday!

Today's mineral Sample is from Setting Stones Mine, Fourstones Northtumberland England

This mystery mineral forms low temperature Hydrothermal vents and is assoicated with Galena and Celestine, It was used as a rat poison in the Civil Parash of Anglezarke England, up until the 1800s

do you know our mystery mineral?

27/08/2026

Throwback Thursday!

Looking down Sticht Street on a VERY cold day in Queenstown ❄

Do you have memories of snow settling on your doorstep? Share them below!

24/08/2026

Mineral Monday!

This sample has travelled a little farther to get here all the way from Mount Isa!

This blue-green mineral is a minor ore of copper, but is mostly used in jewellery for its beautiful patterns and as it is slightly more common than turquoise.

Can you identify this mineral?

20/08/2026

Throwback Thursday!

These recently digitised photographs offer a rare glimpse of the former Comstock Campsite on the northern slopes of Mount Lyell.

The photographer is unknown and the images are undated, but the helicopter appears to be a Hiller which leads us to believe they were taken some time in the 1950s-1960s.

Have you ever travelled around the rugged West Coast by air? We would love to hear your stories! 🚁

13/08/2026

Do you recognise this scene?

This recently digitised photograph was in a folder labelled 'General view of Queenstown', but we don't think that's quite right.

We think it could be taken somewhere in the Central Highlands - perhaps Derwent Bridge or Tarraleah. Your help is greatly appreciated!

10/08/2026

Mineral Monday!

Apparently the last one we did was too easy, so how about this one?

This mineral is generally white or colourless, but also found in much darker tones like this sample from Rosebery.

While mostly used as a weighting agent for gas and oil drilling, this mineral is also used in paint pigments, and concrete for radiation shielding!

Can you identify this mineral?

06/08/2026

Did you know Queenstown, Tasmania, once hosted the Mount Lyell School of Mines and Industries on Driffield Street?
Serving the remote West Coast mining community, this historical institution offered technical education and diplomas supervised by University of Tasmania examiners.

The School officially opened in 1915 and operated independently into the late 1970s, before technical education across Tasmania was structurally integrated into the modern TAFE system.

During the mid-20th Century, it served as a premier technical institution for the West Coast region, training notable instructors and figures like former Australian Deputy Prime Minister Lance Barnard (who taught trades there in the late 1940s).
In the late 1970s it was recognized in federal reports as one of Tasmania's five primary regional technical colleges. Alongside schools in Hobart, Launceston, Burnie, and Devonport, its facilities evolved into part of the state's broader post-secondary and technical training infrastructure.
Its legacy lives on through local archives and its WWI Honour Roll!

03/08/2026

Here at the Heritage Centre, we have a new Galena display which is a Sulfide mineral that primally contains Lead and Sliver and grows in cubic and angular formations.

Australia is helping lead the charge of Galena mining as being one of world's biggest producers. The mining boom in Zeehan gained momentum during 1890-1892 when Galena was discovered around the local area.

It took both of our maintenance workers and blacksmith to carry the largest sample of Galena into this display case! The large sample came from Mt Farrell Mine, Tullah.