The line arrived at Charters Towers in December 1882[1] and eventually extended west to the city of Mount Isa in 1929.[2] The line was built initially to connect Charters Towers with the Port of Townsville. The spark was the discovery of gold that had taken place in January 1872. Seven years later the rise in gold returns convinced the government to connect the centre to the coast with a more reliable transport conduit. The station was built at Queenton, midway between the two population centres of Charters Towers and Millchester.[3] The station was opened in December 1882 by PremierThomas McIlwraith.[4]