Yungaburra, Queensland

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Yungaburra
state = qld


caption = St Patrick's Catholic Church, Yungaburra, QLD (1914)
lga = Tablelands Regional Council
postcode = 4884
pop = 1,007 (2001 census)
est = 1890s
stategov = Tablelands
fedgov = Kennedy
dist1 = 67
location1= Cairns
dist2 = 13
location2= Atherton

Yungaburra is a town located on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia, not far from Cairns. It is convert|750|m|ft|0|lk=on above sea level and has a resident population of approximately 1,000.

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.

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.

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.

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 (Yidyam) and Lake Barrine are lakes inside volcanic craters.
* Mount Hypipamee Crater is a [diatreme] (crater).
* Tinaroo Dam is a man-made dam.

Average temperatures

* Summer (Dec - Feb): 18°C – 27.7°C
* Winter (Jun - Aug): 10.4°C – 22.3°C

Tourism

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 creek. Tracks lead to Frawley's Pool, a popular swimming hole and picnic area, then further to Yungaburra's historical train bridge. In the opposite direction there is a track to the platypus viewing deck. 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.

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.

The Curtain Fig Tree, which is just out of Yungaburra, is a giant rainforest fig tree with vines hanging down, giving it the appearance of curtains. There is a short boardwalk around the tree.

Lake Barrine and Lake Eacham are crater lakes, formed from volcanoes. 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.

There are a number of places to dine, from Keddies Takeaway to fine dining at Nicks Restaurant. Accommodation of all kinds is available.

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.yungaburra.com/ Yungaburra.com]
* [http://www.tablelands.org/yungaburra.html Atherton Tablelands] Travel Guide
* [http://www.blushtreecottage.com.au/ Blush Tree Cottage]