Duchess lies on the northern bank of Jack’s Creek, on of the upper branches of the Burke River, 97.6kms southwest of Cloncurry and 97kms south of Mount Isa. It was discovered by Jack Kennedy in 1897, 24-year-old son of Alexander Kennedy. It was named Duchess after the aboriginal wife of Oscar de Satge an English Aristocrat who was known as “The Dukeâ€. In February 1906 the original holders sold the leases for £15.000 to the Hampden - Cloncurry Mines limited. The Duchess Mine was the deepest in the Cloncurry district, high-grade bornite (copper sulphide) ore, and worth over 30 per cent. Duchess was a large Railway siding up until WWII.
The cemetery is approximately 2 km north of Duchess behind a large hill. Follow the road east through town, turn left before crossing the railway line, next turn left through a gate and drive 1km. It is a fenced area to the left. There are six headstones. A few more are marked but there are at least 45 altogether.