Historic Village Herberton preserves some of the fascinating history of Far North Queensland.
Story + Photos Tara Webster
"Chhhoooooo!” The piercing whistle of the Atherton–Herberton Historic Railway’s 1905 Peckett steam locomotive and carriage echoes across the Wild River as the train rumbles from Herberton Station to the Historic Village Herberton, strategically placed on the outskirts of the once-significant town. Established in 1880, Herberton was the first town built on the western edge of the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland and was a thriving hub in the tin-mining boom of the 1880s.
Passengers disembarking at the Historic Village from the 1913 Queensland Rail timber passenger carriage might catch the refreshing fragrance of lemon-scented gums and feel the thumping of an enormous 1930s English Electric 16SVG engine running. The engine was donated by the Malanda Milk factory to the Historic Village.
It is Pioneer Weekend at the village, an annual event in May showcasing life in an 1880s Australian town. Various community groups and individuals help run the weekend, conducting history-based demonstrations and experiences, fundraising, and sharing stories and information.
This story excerpt is from Issue #156
Outback Magazine: August/September 2024
