Mareeba Shire of Diversity

The shire of Mareeba has built its strength through the sustainable level of agriculture including coffee, exotic fruit and a once thriving tobacco industry which has now largely been replaced with sugar cane and mangoes.

This has been made possible through the development of the Tinaroo Falls Dam which since its construction in the 1950's has been supplying water to the region through a complex network of irrigation channels.

The township of Mareeba is an hour's drive up through the Kuranda range road north west of Cairns. During this drive you will pass through amazing landscape changes as you move from the coastal rainforest regions to the savanna bush lands so typical to Australia. Once through Mareeba you can continue to the townships of Dimbulah then on to Chillagoe.

Dimbulah
Approx 45 mins drive from Mareeba is the township of Dimbulah. This area of country in years gone by has had an interest in mining and has shared a strong agricultural industry with Mareeba. 34 kilometres north of Dimbulah is the historic mining settlement of Tyrconnell, part of the Hodgkinson goldfield that was responsible for the establishment of Cairns and Port Douglas as service centres for the mining field

Marble Pit Chillagoe

Chillagoe
Approx 2 hours drive from Mareeba along the Burke Development Road is the township of Chillagoe renowned for its famous Chillagoe Caves and long history of mining to which the old smelter chimney still remains today.

Marble mining was once an immense industry in Chillagoe and it is possible to view the open marble pits as you drive past them. Chillagoe geologist tell that the area is a landscape of long lost seas and ancient reefs that teemed with fabulous creatures that have long since past into oblivion.

Irvinebank
Travel south from Mareeba through Atherton and Herberton and you will find that the quiet country roads lead you back into Mareeba Shire. When you arrive in Irvinebank hidden deep within the wild ranges you step back in time and begin a journey that takes you to the very centre of a long lost mining empire.

At the turn of the century John Moffat controlled a vast mining operation that was the then equivalent of today's BHP-Billiton, from Irvinebank. Today you can enter into the private world of this legendary financier and tycoon by visiting Loudoun House Museum.

Loudoun House Museum

Australian Savanna

Julatten, Mt Molloy, Mt Carbine and Mt Mulligan
Travel north of Mareeba along the Peninsula Development Road and enjoy a small slice of life from an amazing wilderness experience that is Cape York.

Here without having to travel the long dusty miles you will find places where you can experience part of the adventure and thrill that is usually associated with making the long trek north to the tip of Australia.

Explore the rainforest around Julatten and you will find many of the same plants and animals that habitat the isolated pockets of rainforest that dot the east coast of the Cape. Travel across from Mt Molloy to Mt Carbine and you will experience the wide open spaces and golden hues of the savanna.

The views towards Mt Alto to the left and the Carbine Tableland skyline to the right hint at the remoteness and grandeur of the landscapes which stretch before you to the northern tip of Australia. Why not stop and have a meal at the local roadhouse, put your feet up for a while and watch the passing traffic. On your return journey stop and explore historic Mt Molloy, enjoy a drink at the pub or a meal at the local café. Bring a pair of binoculars and wander among the town's parkland and you will soon see why the area attracts legions of dedicated bird watchers each year.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland - Tourism Queensland - Tropical Tablelands Tourism

Tableland Heritage

Mareeba Heritage Museum and Information Centre

345 Byrnes St, Centenary Park Mareeba QLD 4880
Ph/Fax (07) 40 925 674

Open 7 days: 8.00am to 4.00 pm

Website by CHMAF