Atherton Tablelands - Herberton

Herberton is one of the few towns at the Atherton Tablelands that hasn’t been swept along in the 21st century. It feels like a true country town: laid back pace, very friendly and immersed in history.

Herberton was established in 1880 as a base for tin mining at the nearby Herbert River. This area was rich in the mineral, and mining activities continued until 1978. In its heyday, Herberton was the richest tin mining field in Australia supported 20 hotels, two local newspapers, 17 pubs and a brewery. Fortunately, many of the original buildings are still standing and being used by local businesses.

The main tourist attractions in Herberton are the historic galleries and museums. Unfortunately, on Sunday April 27th 2003, the main historical attraction closed its doors – a victim of the Australian public liability crisis. The Herberton Historical Village and Museum, otherwise known as the Tin Pannikin, had operated for 26 years, building a collection of historical artefacts in a village of century-vintage buildings from the Cairns Highlands. This closure is a tragedy for Tropical North Queensland.

This is one of the highest towns at the Atherton Tablelands, standing at 915 metres above sea level. It is 122 kms from Cairns with a population of approximately 1500. As a consequence, the forest around Herberton is dry and scrubby.