From a town of 724 residents to noone, Stannary Hills — David Taylor - Master Jeweller

late July 2026

I have heard people talk of Stannary Hills for quite a few years now but had never taken the time to go until recently. It is an old tin mining town not far from where I often camp outside Irvinebank.

The mine site is heritage listed and is on Boonmoo Station. According to signage camping in the area is by permission from the owners by phoning 07 4094 4129. During the bushfire season no camping is permitted.

It is a pretty easy dirt road ride into Stannary Hills and just before you get to the township the road forks. The left route will take you to the old town site and the right to the Rocky Bluff Mill where they crushed the ore from the mine.

Turning left at the fork in the road

At the site of the old township at Stannary Hills you will find pretty much nothing other than what appears to be a makeshift shelter in which someone is living off the grid. If you continue along the road through the town a couple of hundred metres it takes you down to Eureka creek.

I assume like much of the water around old mining sites in the area this water is not safe to drink. Tin deposits were discovered at Stannary Hills in 1884 and by 1911 there were eight hotels there, a Jack and Newell and other stores, hospital, two butchers, two bakers and a teacher. In 1906 the population was recorded as 724.

Turning right at the fork in the road

Rocky Bluff Mill, near Stannary Hills, July 2026.

If you head back out of the old township site to the fork in the road and take the other road, a few kilometres away you will arrive at Rocky Bluff Mill. It was there that the ore from the mine was crushed and you will find remnants of the Mill.

In 1902 a two foot gauge tramway was built from Stannary Hills to the Cairns-Chillagoe railway, following the Eureka Creek valley and joining the railway at Boonmoo. The tramway was used to transport the ore to the Mill at Rocky Bluff and also lowered the costs of transporting tin out of Stannary Hills.

Steel works removed and recycled. Rocky Bluff Mill, near Stannary Hills, July 2026.

In 1936 the tramway was closed and the rails were taken for scrap during World War II. It appears that almost anything of scrap metal value was unbolted and taken away.

Camping at Stannary Hills

If you continue a short distance further along the road that took you to Rocky Bluff Mill you will arrive at a large water body. This spot, from the fire pits present, I assume is where most people camp.

There are dirt tracks all the way around so I am sure some wonderful campsite exist. Please remember if you intend to camp there that camping is only allowed by permission from Boonmoo Station 07 4094 4129 and during the bushfire season no camping is permitted.

I have no idea if a fee is involved as I have other places I camp in the area. What I can say is that it was very quiet there if you like that…..and that the only person I have seen on my visits there has been the station owner doing the rounds in his 4WD.