Yungaburra, Queensland
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| Yungaburra Queensland |
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| Population: | 1,007 (2001 census) |
| Established: | 1890s |
| Postcode: | 4884 |
| Location: | |
| LGA: | Eacham Shire |
| State District: | Tablelands |
| Federal Division: | Kennedy |
Yungaburra (; post code: 4884) is a town located on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia, not far from Cairns. It is 750m above sea level and has a resident population of approximately 1,000.
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[edit] History
Prior to European settlement the area around Yungaburra was inhabited by about sixteen different indigenous groups, including the Ngadjoni people. In the early 1880s the area around Allumbah Pocket was used as an overnight stop for miners travelling west from the coast. In 1886 the land was surveyed, and in 1891 settlers moved in.
In 1910 the railway arrived, and the town was renamed Yungaburra, to avoid confusion with another town called Allumbah. By 1911 indigenous numbers had fallen to 20% of the pre-settlement population due to disease, conflict with settlers and loss of habitat.
[edit] Cyclone Larry
In 2006, The Atherton Tableland region was devastated by the Category 5 (on the Australian scale) Cyclone Larry. The roofs of the community hall, police station and one of the bush cottages were badly damaged or removed by the weather, as was the front of the Yungaburra Butchery and the sign on the Gem Gallery. As well as the above, many trees, sheds, caravans and gardens were blown away or ruined.
[edit] Present day
Yungaburra's economy today revolves around tourism, and the town contains a primary school, post office, library/telecentre and a range of businesses and services for the use of residents and visitors. It has 18 Heritage Listed buildings, and is the largest National Trust village in Queensland. The Yungaburra Markets, held on the fourth weekend of each month, are one of the largest in Far North Queensland, and each year around the end of October, Yungaburra holds the two-day Yungaburra Folk Festival, featuring concerts from Australian (and sometimes international) folk musicians.
[edit] Geography
The landscape around Yungaburra has been shaped by millennia of volcanic activity. The most recent eruptions were approximately 10 000 years ago. Notable geological features nearby include:
- Seven Sisters and Mount Quincan are volcanic cones.
- Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine are lakes inside volcanic craters.
- Mount Hypipamee Crater is a [diatreme] (crater).
- Tinaroo Dam is a man-made dam.
[edit] Average temperatures
- Summer (Dec - Feb): 18°C – 27.7°C
- Winter (Jun - Aug): 10.4°C – 22.3°C
[edit] Tourism
Boutique Accommodation
Yungaburra has a thriving accommodation industry with boutique options including country bed & breakfasts, cottages, motels and units. The emphasis throughout Yungaburra is on romance, and the town is a popular weekend destination for loving couples from Cairns. Many properties spoil their guests with luxurious spa baths, designer linen, open fire places and secluded locations.
Allumbah Pocket and Frawley's Pool
Allumbah Pocket is a picnic area on Peterson's Creek which runs past Yungaburra. It is the centre for a series of walking tracks along the picturesque creek. Tracks lead to Frawley's Pool, a popular swimming hole and picnic area, then further to Yungaburra's impressive historical train bridge. In the opposite direction there is a track to the platypus viewing deck, however crossing the creek here is sometimes difficult as it often floods. Aside from this all of the tracks are relatively easy and short enough for anyone to do. The site is dedicated to Geoff Tracy, a local renowned environmentallist who died in 2004.
Platypus Viewing
Platypus watching is a popular tourist attraction, especially on Peterson's Creek. There is a specially built viewing platform near Nick's Restaurant, however anywhere along the creek is good for watching platypuses.
Lake Tinaroo (Tinaroo Dam)
Yungaburra has access to the southern arm of Lake Tinaroo which is popular for fishing, canoeing, sailing, swimming, water-skiing and camping. The other main places to get to Tinaroo are Kairi and the township of Tinaroo.
Curtain Fig Tree
The Curtain Fig Tree, which is just out of Yungaburra, is a giant rainforest fig tree with the vines hanging down giving it the appearance of curtains. There is a short boardwalk around the tree. Possums can be seen at nights.
Lake Barrine & Lake Eacham
Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham are crater lakes, formed from volcanoes. They are popular tourist attractions. Lake Eacham is popular for swimming and Lake Barrine has a teahouse and gift shop as well as cruises around the lake however is unsuitable for swimming due to the cruise boats. Both lakes have walking tracks around them. Lake Barrine's track is 6km and Lake Eacham's is 3km.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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- Street map from Street Directory, MSN Maps and Multimap.
- Satellite image from Google Maps, WikiMapia and Terraserver.
- Yungaburra.com
- Atherton Tablelands Travel Guide
| Atherton Tableland | |
|---|---|
| Attractions: Lake Tinaroo | Lake Eacham | Lake Barrine | Malanda Falls | Millaa Millaa Falls | Mount Hypipamee Crater | Mount Quincan | Seven Sisters | Curtain Fig Tree | Davies Creek | |
| Towns: Atherton | Dimbulah | Herberton | Kairi | Kuranda | Mareeba | Malanda | Millaa Millaa | Mutchilba | Ravenshoe | Tinaroo | Tolga | Walkamin | Yungaburra | |
| Local Government Areas: Atherton Shire | Eacham Shire | Herberton Shire | Mareeba Shire |
