Herberton

The first town on the Atherton Tablelands

Herberton is a historic mining town established in 1880. Many buildings in Herberton date back to the early 1880s and are a reminder of days gone by. A walk down the main street is like a step back in time. Herberton is situated south-west of Atherton on the Wild River, where tin was first discovered by Australian explorer James Venture Mulligan in 1875.

Herberton Museums

Herberton boasts a reconstructed Historic Village containing 50 restored buildings relocated from former ghost towns abandoned after the the initial mining rushes. There is an extensive collection of vintage cars and machinery in working condition, and the buildings are filled with antiques and memorabilia. Herberton is also the location of Australia's only Museum of Camera's and Photography. The camera and photography collection was developed by Roy Jacques, and includes spy cameras disguised as everyday objects. The museum is housed in the Jack and Newell building, one of the oldest buildings in north Queensland.

Herberton Historic village

Atherton-Herberton Historical Railway maintains a railway museum in the town's train station, and offers steam train rides on Sundays. The Herberton Mining Museum and Visitor Information Center is located on the site of the Great Northern Mine, the first and largest mine established on the Wild River.

Tours and Attractions

The hills around Herberton contain a network of trails for trekking, hiking or just a scenic stroll. The town and surrounding environment are filled with historical sites in a wilderness setting. Printed guides to these walks can be found at the towns museum and information center. Wilderness Expeditions, which specialises in treks to remote areas of the far north and Cape York Peninsular, using donkeys as pack animals, operates out of Herberton.

Accommodation

Herberton has a Caravan Park, motel, Historic Hotel, B & B and farmstay accommodation and cafes and is a great base from which to explore the region. The Royal Hotel is the oldest pub on the Atherton Tablelands and offers meals and accommodation.

Herberton also serves as an education center serving the needs of North Queensland Outback, Gulf Savannah, Cape York and Torres Strait communities.

Places Nearby: Atherton Ravenshoe Irvinebank Mt. Hypipamee Crater. Read more about the history of Herberton

Search this site