A former tin mining centre, it is now a tourist destination that is home to crater lakes and the famous Curtain and Cathedral Fig Trees. Tinaroo is located on the shore of Lake Tinaroo, a man-made reservoir, some 35 km southwest of Cairns and on the north side of the Atherton Tableland.
Location: 80 km west of Gordonvale
Places of interest: Atherton Tablelands; Barron River; Tinaroo Falls; Lake Tinaroo; Cathedral Fig Tree; Lake Euramoo (volcanic crater lake); Tinaroo Falls Dam (1953-58); Lake Tinaroo Orchard Gardens and Nursery
Origin of name: The town takes its name from a creek where John Atherton found tin and gold in 1878. Atherton is credited with naming the creek Tinaroo.
Brief history: The area was settled by John Atherton in 1880. Atherton had settled at Emerald End Station on the Barron River in 1876. He discovered tin and named the locality Tinaroo.
Postioned near the headwaters of the Barron River, the Tinaroo Gorge was chosen for the site of the dam in the course of considering postwar reconstruction projects in 1944. Work began in 1955 on Queensland's first inland diversion of water and first large dam for the conservation of water for irrigation. Its capacity is about three-quarters that of Sydney Harbour, occupying about two-thirds of the Harbour's area. Waters are released to keep the downstream Kuranda hydro-electric station operating.
A construction township within walking distance of the worksite was built to accommodate over 700 employees, with 240 dwellings for married personnel. The township included meeting and recreation halls, medical facilities, a shopping centre, a school and a police station. Work was completed in 1958 when the spillway began operation. Irrigation waters run through 600 km of main and distribution channels to the west beyond Dimbulah and to the north through Mareeba and beyond Bimboohm. At the time of commissioning, 1100 farms comprising 53,000 ha were irrigated.
The Tinaroo Range defines the north-west limit of the Atherton Tableland, and when local government was conferred on the district the governing body was named the Tinaroo Division (1880). It became a shire in 1903, its area including Eacham and part of Mareeba Shires, and was renamed Atherton Shire in 1935. The Tinaroo Progress Association was an active agitator for closer-settlement on the Tablelands around 1900.
Tinaroo Dam is better known as Lake Tinaroo, with considerable recreation and accommodation facilities. There is also a sailing club, but the local population no longer sustains the provision of a primary school.
The Danbulla forest is a spectacular part of the Atherton Tableland, covering 12,000ha between the Tinaroo and Lamb ranges, and bordering Lake Tinaroo. It includes eucalypt and acacia forests, pine plantations and Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest. Enjoy a short walk through the upland rainforest to Mobo Creek Crater or take time to marvel at the size of the Cathedral fig tree. Choose a secluded camp site at School Point or let the kids kick a football around the grassed area at The Chimneys. The chimneys are all that remain of the house, built in 1924, standing taller than the surrounding tree line.
Heritage chimneys in the Danbullah area, near Lake Tinaroo
This joint camping and day-use area is in a hoop pine plantation that was established in 1971. Popular with waterskiers and anglers, this site provides an interesting view of the dam wall. The picnic area is separate from the camping area and can accommodate several groups. Picnic tables and open fireplaces are provided.
Danbulla National Park and Danbulla State Forest are on the central part of the Atherton Tableland. Danbulla Road is a 28km drive, suitable for conventional vehicles, that runs through the park and forest. The eastern entrance to the road is on Boar Pocket Road, just near the top of the Gillies Highway, about 60km or 1.5hrs drive from Cairns. The western entrance is reached via the township of Kairi, which is about 80km from Cairns via the Gillies Highway, and about 90km from Cairns via the Kennedy Highway and Mareeba.
