Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company was a Tasmanian mining company formed on the 29 March 1893, most commonly referred to as Mount Lyell. Mount Lyell was the dominant copper mining company of the West Coast from 1893 to 1994. Its operations were based in Queenstown, Tasmania. Motto: Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Nickname: The Apple Isle Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Governor Premier Const. ... March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (89th in Leap years). ... 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance copper, metallic Atomic mass 63. ... Municipality of West Coast The Municipality of West Coast is a local government area of Tasmania. ... Municipality of West Coast Local Government Areas of Tasmania For other places by the same name, see Queenstown. ...

Following consolidation of leases and company assets at the beginning of the twentieth century, Mount Lyell was the major company for the communities of Queenstown, Strahan and Gormanston. It remained dominant until its closure in the 1990s.

The operations were conducted in various parts of the Mount Lyell Lease, and in the mid 1970's, prior to reduction in the workforce, "Cape Horn" was located just west of the "Comstock" operation which was on the north side of Mount Lyell, while most of the North Mount Lyell workings were finished, "12 West" was still in operation due to its rich copper ores. "West Lyell open cut" which had been dominant in the 1950's was finished, and various parts of the lease were dissapearing into the opening above the "Prince Lyell" workings.

During its history, Mount Lyell had exploration leases surrounding its main mining area, and had at one time or other explored most of the West Coast Range revisiting many of the smaller mines that had been worked on in the early 1900's.

Following the first large layoffs in the mid 1970's, the town of Queenstown lost its dominance on the west coast by the mid 1990's, and being mainly a company town many services closed by the 2000's.

Mount Lyell was also the operator of the Queenstown, Tasmania to Regatta Point, Tasmania railway from 1893 to 1963. This railway was rebuilt and recommenced operation in 2002 as the Abt Wilderness Railway, and is now known as the West Coast Wilderness Railway. The company has been significant in Australian business history works as Geoffrey Blainey, the Australian historian, began his career with the writing of the company history Peaks of Lyell, which has now progressed to the Fifth Edition. Municipality of West Coast Local Government Areas of Tasmania For other places by the same name, see Queenstown. ... The West Coast Wilderness Railway, Tasmania is a reconstruction of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company railway between Queenstown and Regatta Point. ... Professor Geoffrey Blainey AO (born 1930 -), is recognised as one of Australias most significant and popular historians. ...

Also, due to circumstances at the winding up of Mount Lyell significant amounts of company records were saved for archives.

Main Reference:

Blainey, Geoffrey. The Peaks of Lyell, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic., 1954, 310pp. 'History of Mt. Lyell' [manuscript] (M.A. Thesis), University of Melbourne, 1955, 328 leaves. The first half of this history was presented as Geoffrey Blainey's Master of Arts thesis. The Peaks of Lyell, 2nd ed., Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic., 1959, 310pp. 3rd ed., Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic.; London, 1967, 341pp. 4th ed., Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic., 1978, 341pp. 5th ed., St. David's Park Publishing, Hobart, Tas., 1993, 370pp.