Calcifer Cemetery is in the bush at the south-western corner of what was once the small, thriving town of Calcifer in northern Queensland. The town's name was derived from the three minerals discovered there - calcium, copper and iron (ferrous) - and its brief history was centred around the smelter erected in 1894. The town of Calcifer was surveyed 20 December 1898, and proclaimed as a township reserve in the Queensland Government Gazette of 1899. Calcifer's cemetery was gazetted in July 1900 with an area of five acres. When a smelter was set up in nearby Chillagoe, Calcifer was abandoned and entirely deserted by 1907.
Peter Patterson-Kane made digital images of the few remaining headstones in September 2011. He says that the site is unfenced and there is no evidence of it ever having been fenced. There are 5 graves enclosed by wrought iron fence surrounds but only four of these are marked. Three of the four persons memorialised were killed in an explosion at the Hobson Mine on 16 July 1903 and the other is of an infant who died three days later. The unmarked grave is occupied by the first person recorded as being buried there, who died in April 1900.
In compiling the inscriptions, the Queensland indices of births, deaths and marriages were sourced for additional information.
Take the Burke Development Road south from Chillagoe for approx 12km, turn left into Calcifer Road and continue for 1.95 km (approx 500m past the Marble Mine). Cemetery is 150m to the right. Peter is grateful to Mellissa for directing him to the cemetery.