A major new memorial project in Mount Isa has received a $2 million contribution from Glencore to honour miners who lost their lives while working in the region. The announcement was published on 10 August 2026 and concerns a planned $4.7 million memorial on Frank Aston Hill, overlooking the Mount Isa Mines in north-west Queensland.

The memorial will honour around 150 miners who died on the job and provide a permanent place for families, former mine workers and the wider Mount Isa community to remember those who lost their lives. The project is being jointly funded by the Queensland Government, Glencore and Mount Isa City Council, with the memorial expected to be completed by late 2027.

The planned site on Frank Aston Hill will include memorial panels, shaded areas, amphitheatre-style seating and dedicated spaces for reflection. Its elevated position will also provide views across the Mount Isa Mines, linking the memorial directly with the mining industry that has shaped the city's history and economy.

Glencore's $2 million contribution is intended to help create a permanent tribute to the workers and their families. The company said the memorial would provide a place where people could remember and pay their respects, while also serving as a reminder of the importance of workplace safety and protecting workers in the mining industry.

The project has strong community significance because Mount Isa has a long association with mining. Generations of families have worked in and around the city's mines, and mining has played a central role in the development of the local economy. The memorial is intended to recognise not only the workers who died but also the contribution made by mining families to the broader Mount Isa community.

Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Planning and Infrastructure Jarrod Bleijie said families in Mount Isa had been calling for a fitting place to remember their loved ones for years. The government described the memorial as a way to honour the city's mining history while recognising the people who have been at the centre of its mining communities.

Mount Isa Mayor Peta Mac Rae also highlighted the importance of the project to families across the region. The mayor said the memorial would provide a lasting place to honour workers who lost their lives and recognise the contribution of mine workers and their families.

The announcement is also connected to wider investment being made through the Mount Isa Transition Fund. The Australian Mining report said nearly $6 million from the fund is supporting several initiatives, including a small-business incubator, a 110-hectare circular-economy industrial estate and a research centre providing laboratory services to surrounding mines.

The memorial project itself has been under development for several years. Mount Isa City Council previously worked with a Mine Workers' Memorial Advisory Committee on the preferred location, design and planning for the project, with Frank Aston Hill selected as the preferred site.

For Mount Isa, the memorial represents an important combination of remembrance, community identity and workplace safety. Once completed, it will provide a permanent landmark where families can commemorate loved ones and where future generations can learn about the human contribution behind the region's mining history.

The announcement therefore marks a significant step forward for a project that has been sought by the Mount Isa community for years, with construction now planned to deliver the completed memorial by late 2027.