Queenstown, town, western Tasmania, Australia. It lies in the west-coast ranges, in the Queen River valley. Founded in 1897 after gold, silver, and copper were discovered at nearby Mount Lyell, the town was named for Queen Victoria and was proclaimed a municipality in 1907. Queenstown lies on the Lyell Highway, about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of the port of Strahan and 155 miles (250 km) northwest of Hobart. Much of the town’s workforce is employed in the mines at Mount Lyell, and the town has concentration, smelting, and refining facilities. Before newer, less environmentally damaging ore-treatment methods were introduced ...(100 of 201 words)