Charters Towers is considered the gateway to the outback. Gold was discovered there in 1871 making it Queensland's second largest city for a brief period. In its heyday in the 1880s, Charters Towers was home to Australia's first stock market. It sat at the intersection of roadways (east and west) between Mount Isa and Townsville, (north and south) Emrald and Carins.

     With the start of World War II and the threat of a Japanese invasion of Australia, an air strip was constructed on the edge of Charters Towers on a ridge. The two sealed cross-runways were completed in a record 6 weeks by the Australian Civil Construction Corps.  They worked day and night to achieve this record. As a result of the large airfield, base, and hospital, allied war casualties were flown in from New Guinea.