Mareeba

MAREEBA

LOCATION: 68 km west of Cairns

POPULATION: Approx. 6400

Mareeba is the Tableland's largest town and Australia's biggest tobacco district, producing 6300 tonnes

a year (approximately 40% of the national yield). Several cattle yards, meatworks, sawmill and a rapidly

growing rice industry add to the prosperity. Mareeba is an Aboriginal word meaning "Meeting of the

Waters" as it is near the confluence of Granite Creek, Emerald Creek and the Barron River. John

Atherton, Mareeba's first settler, arrived in 1877 and in 1880 put up the town's first building on the

banks of Granite Creek, at a spot marked with a slab of granite. His Bush Inn catered for Cobb & Co's

coaches and weary travellers, travelling between Port Douglas and Herberton on the route to the tin

fields. Tinaroo Creek is said to get its name from Atherton shouting: "Tin. Huroo!" when finding tin in its

waters. Old workings from the late nineteenth century still stand in ruins along the creek. Off the main

street is a mosque built by townfolk of Albanian descent as a memorial to war dead. Each July there is

also a rodeo which is acknowledged as one of the largest in the country, with a usual attendance of

over 14 000 spectactors.

Barron Falls

Train Scenic Tours

Old Cattle Stations

Mareeba Rodeo

Camping Grounds

Bush Walks

Markets

Historic Sites

Davies Creek

Granite Gorge

Tyrconnell and General Grant (old gold mines)

Tobacco & Rice Farms

Fruit Farms (including Avocados, Mangoes, etc.)

AREA POST CODE: 4880

AREA PHONE CODE: 07

International 61 7 ....

SHOPPING FACILITIES

Local Shops, Supermarket, Service Station & Post Office Available

BANKING & EXCHANGE

ANZ, National Australia Bank, Nothern Building Society, etc.

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Hospital 07 4092 2322

Police 000 or 07 4092 1200

Ambulance 000 or 07 4092 4422