Community & Business
20 March, 2025
Vale Mary Bolam – champion of Chillagoe’s rich history
The Chillagoe community, and especially the Chillagoe Alliance, is mourning the passing of Mary Bolam on 4 March. Mary was a driving force behind the town’s historical preservation, tourism, and community development for more than four decades.
Her passion for Chillagoe, its people, and its stories shaped much of what visitors and locals appreciate today.
Mary moved to Chillagoe in the 1980s and first became known in town as the owner and operator of the Chillagoe Motel, which later became part of the local mining companies’ accommodation. Never one to stand still, she went on to transform a house and its extensive gardens beside Chillagoe Creek into Chillagoe Creek Homestead, a peaceful retreat offering camping for visitors.
Her greatest legacy, however, lies in her tireless efforts to preserve and promote Chillagoe’s rich history.
As a founding member and long-serving Heritage Officer of the Chillagoe Alliance, Mary played a vital role in securing funding for the Heritage Trails Network and the Centenary of Federation celebrations, ensuring that the town’s past was honoured and remembered. Recognising the need for a central space to coordinate heritage projects, she helped establish The Hub, which later led to the formal creation of the Chillagoe Alliance after a key meeting on 20 July 1999.
Mary was behind many of Chillagoe’s most recognisable heritage projects. One of the most striking is Dave the Elasmosaur, a life-sized replica of a 140-million-year-old marine reptile discovered in the district. She championed the project from the start, engaging an expert modeller from the Queensland Museum to bring it to life. Today, Dave stands proudly at the entrance to town, a reminder of Chillagoe’s prehistoric past.
Mary’s love for history extended beyond landmarks – she also worked to document it. She compiled a mining history booklet, gathering historic photographs and stories that highlight the town’s deep connection to Australia’s political and industrial landscape.
She was instrumental in the restoration of the Chillagoe Court House, a building that once hosted a 1920s Royal Commission into mining corruption. Under her guidance, it was transformed into a museum that gives visitors insight into the region’s legal and mining history.
Another of Mary’s lasting contributions was the restoration of the Chillagoe Railway Station, built in 1901 to serve the mines and smelters. Thanks to her dedication, efforts were set in motion to restore and repurpose the station, ensuring its historical significance is recognised. She remained actively involved in advocating for its future until her passing.
Mary was more than a historian and community leader – she was a force of nature, fiercely dedicated to ensuring that Chillagoe’s past was never forgotten. Her work continues to enrich the town, and her legacy will live on through the many projects she helped create.
Mary Bolam will be deeply missed, but the mark she left on Chillagoe will remain for generations to come.
