The Atherton Tablelands in Queensland is home to several fascinating natural history museums that showcase the region's rich cultural and historical heritage. One such museum is the Mareeba Heritage Museum, which offers a diverse range of displays covering the timber, tobacco, fruit, and gold eras of the area. The museum's staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to make history engaging and lively, with a layout that is both logical and educational. The museum also features a superb coffee shop for visitors to enjoy.
Another notable museum in the region is the Herberton Mining Museum, which highlights the essential role mining played in the Atherton Tablelands from the 1880s onwards. The museum offers visitors a unique experience with working exhibits and a chance to explore the mining history of the region. Visitors are provided with a headlamp and encouraged to touch and explore the exhibits, making it an interactive and immersive experience.
The Historic Village Herberton is an open-air museum near the Tablelands' oldest town, offering a glimpse into the past with a variety of historical buildings and exhibits. The village features a coach and livery stable, bank, church, telephone exchange, blacksmith, dress shop, grocery store, butcher, pub, dentist, and jail. Visitors can explore these exhibits and experience what life was like in the region's early days. The village also has a café where visitors can relax and admire the beautiful surroundings.
To explore these museums and other attractions in the Atherton Tablelands, consider taking the Museums and Galleries Trail. This idyllic, easy drive trail meanders through small villages and towns, showcasing art, cultural, and natural history along the way. The trail allows visitors to experience paintings, pottery, traditional crafts, handmade jewelry, furniture, and fashion, as well as learn about the region's military role in World War II.