WHEN long-standing resident of Mount Isa June Baker came to Mount Isa in 1965, she said there were two ‘soft drink’ manufacturers in town.

“One was Polkinghorne’s Cordials, which was re-named Isa Sparkle and the other one was Gardiner and Jones. “They were on Simpson Street and their shed is behind Stylish Pastimes and the house still stands, and is now CC’s Pools,” Mrs Baker said.

She and her husband Hugh used to live in 2, Simpson Street, a large house brought to Mount Isa, along with many others, from the defunct mining town Kuridila.

“Opposite those houses were a whole bundle of little cottages and we used to hold election meetings there.

“They were also pulled down,” Mrs Baker said. These places should have been heritage listed,” she said.