Stock Exchange Arcade, Charters Towers: A Gold Rush Landmark
Built in 1888 at the height of the North Queensland gold rush, the Stock Exchange Arcade in Charters Towers is a record of just how much money once flowed through this inland town. Local businessman Alexander Malcolm built it as the Royal Arcade, and in 1890 the newly reorganised Charters Towers Stock Exchange moved in, linking the goldfield to investors far beyond it. It's one of the stops in our Hidden Gems Queensland guide.
Find this and dozens more in Hidden Gems Queensland: directions, access notes and safety tips. Printed guides include 12 months of the Explorer app free. Get the guide →
Stock Exchange Arcade History and Architecture
Designed by Sydney architect Mark Day and built by Sandbrook Brothers of Sydney, the arcade is a rare surviving example of a late 19th-century commercial arcade in Queensland. It was designed for the northern climate, with a glazed barrel-vaulted roof, tessellated tiled floors and improved ventilation. The arcade ends abruptly, as if never finished, a fitting reminder of the rise and fall of fortunes on the goldfields. The surviving iron and masonry give an honest look at the commercial world that grew up around the mines.
Visiting the Stock Exchange Arcade
The arcade is at 76 Mosman Street in the centre of Charters Towers, about 1.5 hours south-west of Townsville. It's owned by the National Trust of Queensland and open to the public. You can walk through the arcade, where the old stockbrokers' offices are now shops, and see the brick assay house at the rear, which holds mining artefacts. Upstairs is the Don Roderick Gallery.
It's a working building with shops and offices, so keep to the public arcade and respect the businesses inside. Opening hours for the assay house and gallery can vary, so check before you travel.
Stock Exchange Arcade FAQs
Where is the Stock Exchange Arcade?
At 76 Mosman Street in the centre of Charters Towers, about 1.5 hours south-west of Townsville.
Is the Stock Exchange Arcade open to the public?
Yes. It's owned by the National Trust of Queensland and you can walk through the arcade, which now holds shops and offices. Check hours for the assay house and gallery before you go.
When was the Stock Exchange Arcade built?
In 1888, as the Royal Arcade. The Charters Towers Stock Exchange moved into it in 1890.
Who designed the Stock Exchange Arcade?
Sydney architect Mark Day designed it, and Sandbrook Brothers of Sydney built it.
For more heritage stops across the state, grab a copy of our Hidden Gems Queensland guide.
