Gold from Mount Carlton mine used for 2019 Melbourne Cup

The employees of the Mount Carlton mine south of Townsville have enjoyed the ultimate buzz of holding the 2019 Melbourne Cup made from gold extracted from the operation.

The workers at Evolution Mining's Mount Carlton mine hold the Melbourne Cup made from gold produced by the operation.

THE employees of the Mount Carlton mine south of Townsville have enjoyed the buzz of holding the 2019 Melbourne Cup, which was made from gold extracted from the operation.

The celebrated cup was taken to the mine site about 150km south of the city earlier this month where workers donned special gloves to hold it aloft.

Mount Carlton general manager Anton Kruger said it was a wonderful occasion.

“It was a great celebration. The employees were really happy,” Mr Kruger said.

“For people to hold something like that they actually helped to make was very special.”

Mount Carlton operator Evolution Mining supplies gold to the ABC Refinery in Sydney which refines the precious metal used for the Melbourne Cup.

More than $200,000 worth of gold is used to make the 18-carat trophy which involves dozens of people with skills from miners, to refiners, to chemists, metals workers and jewellers and is hand made.

This year holds special significance for Australia’s most iconic trophy with the Victorian Racing Club celebrating 100 years of the renowned three-handled design, first presented to the connections of Artilleryman in 1919.

People in Townsville, Ayr and Bowen will be able to share the magic of the cup next month when it is brought to North Queensland as part of a national and international tour ahead of the celebrated horse race in Melbourne in November.

The Melbourne Cup will stop at Bowen on July 25 and in Ayr and Townsville on July 26 for the Cup Calcutta and at the Townsville Turf Club for the Townsville Cup on July 27.

Originally published as Gold from Mount Carlton mine used for 2019 Melbourne Cup