Iron Blow Lookout

Iron Blow Lookout is a significant site in the history of Australian mining.

It was first mined in 1883 and became the site of the earliest major mining venture at Mount Lyell in Tasmania. Geoffrey Blainey, a renowned historian, described the site's appearance before mining began, noting its rocky terrain and deep cracks.

Mining at Iron Blow Lookout began in January 1884 and quickly became an important part of Tasmania's mining industry. Local prospectors camped in the Linda Valley to the east of the Mount Owen - Mount Lyell ridge during the early years of mining. The townsite of Penghana, now known as Queenstown, was covered in rainforest at the time.

The Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company was established in 1893, and mining at the Iron Blow orebody continued until 1929. Ore was transported from Iron Blow to the mine's operations area using Haulage, also known as Self-Acting Haulage.

The closure of Iron Blow mining was connected to the shutdown of the Mount Lyell pyritic smelting and the end of Robert Carl Sticht's smelters and methods. The development of the West Lyell Open cut and the Prince Lyell ore bodies erased all traces of the original workings.

Today, Iron Blow Lookout is a popular tourist attraction that offers visitors a glimpse into the early Australian mining industry. Accessible via a short walk from the car park, the lookout provides breathtaking views of the surrounding hills and valleys.