Charters Towers shopping centre unveils replica 1908 motor car

A life-sized statue of a 1908 REO motor car and historic figures Harry and Dorothy Bishop have been unveiled in Charters Towers, as part of a growing collection of tourist drawcards.

(L-R) Cr Julie Mathews, Jessica Griffin (dressed up as a pilot), Catherine McCabe, Cr Kate Hastie, Cr Alan Barr and Mayor Liz Schmidt.

A piece of Charters Towers history has been brought back to life in the form of a replica 1908 REO motor car - one of the first motor cars to drive in the region.

The sculpture also includes the likeness of Harry Bishop behind the wheel with his daughter Dorothy Bishop beside him.

Mr Bishop opened the very first motor dealership in town, NQ Motors, and his daughter went on to be Queensland’s first female certified pilot.

Mr Bishop would compete in car races up Towers Hill, down Mingela Range to Townsville and across the Flinders River to Hughenden to prove the reliability of the REO car.

The sculpture can be visited by the public at the Goldtower shopping centre, near the World and Wall of History tourist attractions installed by owner Paul McIver.

Originally published as Charters Towers shopping centre unveils replica 1908 motor car