Mount Garnet, North Queensland, is located 100 km west of Innisfail and 110 km south-west of Cairns, about 661m above sea level, on the
southern edge of the Atherton Tableland.
A mining town developed around discoveries of copper, silver and lead ore. A railway was even constructed to the town, which is surrounded by cattle stations.
Mbarbaram Aboriginal People
The Mbabaram (Barbaram) language, which has been described as "dauntingly complex", is an extinct Australian Aboriginal language of north Queensland.
Bob Dixon, one of the first linguists to study the Aboriginal
languages of northeast Queensland, spent time with speakers of the Mbabaram (Barbaram) language, recording their words, songs and Dreamtime stories.
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A group of northern men and women with painted rainforest shields, long spears, boomerangs and large battle sword-clubs. The men have multiple horizontal cicatrices (scars) over their chests and abdomens. Some women wear necklaces. European clothing has been introduced.
Approx 1910. Northern Queensland.
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Dixon's work,
Searching for Aboriginal Languages: Memoirs of a Field Worker, can be read
here. Most of what is known about the language is from Dixon's field research with Mbabaram speaker Albert Bennett. Some of the information is eye-opening on various levels. Of the language he writes:
"Tindale had quoted eleven words from one language, Barbaram, that looked very unlike words in other Australan languages. There were monosyllables, such as ka; words ending in stop consonants, such as mok "man"; and words beginning with consonant sequences, as in mbe.ra "grass basket."
Dixon
continues that the Mbabaram language was thought to be an "aberrant" Aboriginal language, with "monosyllabic words and other oddities". But Dixon revealed that it descended from a more typical form. The Mbabaram people would often learn the languages of other tribes to communicate, as Mbabaram was very difficult to learn.
{Languages grow and continuously adapt. English, for example, evolved to accomodate different ethnic groups and became a composite of a few languages
without masculine, feminine, neuter, and simpler conjugation.}
Anthropoligists Norman Tindale and Joseph Birdsell had said that the Aboriginal rainforest people of North Queensland, were characterised by "short stature, crisp curly hair, and yellowish-brown skin colour".
According to research by Penn State University (
1.) Small-stature populations, averaging 5 foot in height, exist in the rainforests of Africa, Asia, South America and historically, Australia. Smaller stature requires fewer calories and less protein for healthy survival and reproduction.
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| Group at Atherton Tableland, ca. 1895. Creator: Alfred Atkinson. State Library of Queensland |
European observers of North Queensland Rainforest Aboriginal people remarked on their distinctive material culture, which cludeded large and broad patterned shields that differed from tribe to tribe, large wooden swords, often 1.5 metres long, and cross boomerangs.
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| Aboriginal Shelters in the Atherton Tableland district, 1890s, SLQLD |
1860s
Gunnawarra (Aboriginal: meaning "little house" ) Homestead located on a remote area south of Mt Garnet was first
occupied by Europeans in 1865, and the homestead was built in 1878.
1880s
Two brothers discovered tin at Return Creek around 1880, and a tin rush began the following year, after more tin was discovered in Smith Creek, Battle Creek and Nettle Creek.
The copper, silver and zinc lode at Mount Garnet was
discovered in 1882 by Albert Vollenweider and Henry Faasch. Along with James McLeod, manager for John Moffat, they applied for a selection of 60 acres (24 ha) in October 1882.
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| In 1882, Albert Vollenweider discovered copper (and garnet) in the area formerly known as Mullaburra Station (Mt Garnet). |
John Moffat bought his first shares from Vollenweider, Faasch and other partners in 1884 and continued to acquire more shares until he had full control.
Mount Garnet Mine Assay Office at Zinc Road, Mount Garnet, was built from 1899 to 1900.
1890s
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| Northern Mining Register (Charters Towers, Qld. : 1891 - 1892), Wednesday 10 February 1892 |
Copper was discovered on the slopes of Mount Garnet hills in 1897.
The Mount Garnet Hotel was established by Denis Lucey in 1898. Other hotels were the Commonwealth, Imperial, Miners Arms, Royal, Railway and the Federal, which was moved in 1910 to Chillagoe.
In 1898 a large scale copper smelting
operation was established.
Mount Garnet Post Office opened on 25 July 1899.
1900s
The town was gazetted in 1900.
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| Mt. Garnet mines, QLD, seen from a distance, ca. 1900, State Library of Queensland |
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| Site of the Mt Garnet Mines, Queensland, ca. 1900, SLQLD |
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| Children and unidentified man at the Mt Garnet Smelters, ca. 1900, SLQLD |
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| Mount Garnet, Queensland, ca. 1900. Men standing outside a building made of corrugated iron. The buildings on the left are made of timber poles, corrugated iron rooves, and fabric blinds for walls. Possibly miners' quarters? SLQLD |
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| The mining works, buildings and chimneys at Mount Garnet, QLD, ca. 1900. |
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| Site of the Mt Garnet Mines, Queensland, ca. 1900. |
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| Mine and smelter staff, Mt Garnet, QLD, ca. 1901, SLQLD |
Completion, in the School of Arts, at Mount Garnet in 1902.
Mount Garnet Methodist Church was built in 1902.
Buildings and smelters constructed in 1901, closed in 1903 after the copper ran out.
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| Horse team pulling a wagon through Garnet Street, Mount Garnet, Queensland, ca. 1901, SLQLD |
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| Camels and camel merchants at Mt. Garnet, Queensland, c. 1901 Source: State Library of Queensland |
In 1904, Thomas Atkinson acquired "Gunnawarra", a holding of approximately 1400 square miles, carrying up to 10,000 head of cattle. He worked this successfully until 1930, at which time he died from injuries sustained while drafting cattle. Mrs Atkinson continued to work the station herself, and the success of Gunnawarra was due mainly to her personal direction and management. Apart from the various activities of the station itself, Mrs Atkinson found time to dispense hospitality for which she was widely known. The visitors' book at Gunnawarra contains the names of many distinguished guests and servicemen who were stationed in the district during the war years. For many years Mrs Atkinson was president of the Mt Garnet branch of the Country Women's Association and did much to alleviate the difficulties of women in the outback. (
James Cook University Library)
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| Family portrait taken inside a tent, Mt. Garnet, North Queensland, ca. 1905, State Library of Queensland |
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| Mt Garnet Railway in 1906, QLD, SLQLD |
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| The Main Street, Mount Garnet, QLD |
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| Mt Garnet, train station, QLD, n.d. |
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| Mount Garnett Provisional School opened on 22 January 1901. Around 1901-1902, it became Mount Garnett State School, Nt Qld |
The rail line to Mt Garnet was completed in 1902. John Moffatt’s
company sponsored the construction of what was at one time, the largest privately owned railway in Australia. It was taken over by the Queensland Government in 1919.
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| Looking up Garnet Street in the mining town of Mount Garnet, QLD, ca. 1901, SLQLD |
WWI
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| Pte. C. M. Young (Mt Garnet) Northern Herald (Cairns, Qld. : 1913 - 1939), Friday 7 December 1917 |
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| Drover with plant near Gunnawarra, QLD, Northern Herald (Cairns, Qld. : 1913 - 1939), Thursday 22 August 1918 |
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| FATHER AND SONS AS VOLUNTEERS. Mr. Richard Abel (of Mount Garnet) and his two sons, who have gone to the Front. Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), Saturday 30 September 1916 |
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| B13 94 on Mt Garnet line 1911 | Train, Queensland, Railway |
1920s
From 1928 to 1980, tin mining made use of a dredge.
1930s |
| Constable Robert Pacholke (on right), unknown police officer and tracker outside Mt Garnet police station, 1930. Queensland Police Museum |
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| Old disused smelters at Mount Garnet, QLD, ca. 1930, SLQLD |
Several cattle stations and farms growing
tobacco
, potatoes
, corn
and peanuts
were established in the 1930s.
From 1931 to 1932, about 14 tobacco farms existed on the Herbert River flats, along with small farms growing corn, sorghum and maize.
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| Macleay Chronicle (Kempsey, NSW : 1899 - 1952), Wednesday 20 June 1934 |
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| Northern Herald (Cairns, Qld. : 1913 - 1939), Saturday 5 March 1938 |
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| Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 24 August 1938 |
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| Sydney Mail (NSW : 1912 - 1938), Wednesday 24 August 1938 |
1940s and WWIIThe rodeo grounds were used by troops during WWII.
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| MOUNT GARNET, QLD, 1943-07-09. TROOPS OF NO. 1 PLATOON, 2/4TH AUSTRALIAN FIELD COMPANY, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS, REST ON THE ROADSIDE DURING 7TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION MANOEUVRES. LEFT TO RIGHT: FRONT ROW - NX33076 PRIVATE (PTE) C. F. BARRY; QX22557 PTE T. C. BALLINGER; NX73280 PTE R. S. MULDOON; NX118882 PTE G. THOMSON; NX87709 PTE A. G. JARRETT; NX88486 PTE M. J. MCDOUGALL; BACK ROW - VX36130 PTE J. H. ELLERTON; NX82286 PTE R. L. WILLIAMSON; NX137952 PTE J. GILES. AWM |
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| MOUNT GARNET, QLD. 1943-07-13. CORPORAL STUCKEY OF MILITARY HISTORY SECTION, 2ND AUSTRALIAN CORPS, SHAVING AT WILD RIVER. AWM |
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| Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954), Thursday 2 March 1944, |
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| Photo taken May 1945, Mr K. Atkinson is on the left; then come Ella, George and Sam Atkinson, the youngest son of Mr K. J. Atkinson. “Wairuna” near Mt Garnet on the Atherton Tableland, the property of Mr Kenneth Atkinson. |
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| Mail comes once a week to GUNNAWARRA, 1949, Mt Garnet, QLD, Walkabout. |
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| GUNNAWARRA, Mt Garnet, QLD, 1949, Walkabout. |
1950s
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| Fossiking for tin (Mount Garnet, Queensland), 1950, Australasian photo-review |
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| Tin dredge at Mt Garnet, QLD, Australian National Travel Association, 1950 |
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| Mount Garnet, QLD, Australian National Travel Association, 1951 |
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| Australian National Travel Association: Vol. 17 No. 8 (1 August 1951) |
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| Dredge at Mt Garnet, QLD, 1951, Walkaboutarnet, 1951, |
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| Mrs Atkinson was president of the Mt Garnet branch of the Country Women's Association (CWA) , 1955, Walkabout |
1960s
The rail line closed in 1961.
The Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies recorded the existence of an Aboriginal cave painting in a shelter near Mt Garnet (2.)
1970s
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| View of Rodeo Grounds at Mt Garnet, QLD, in 1970, Atiptop |
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| Tin dredging just north of Mount Garnet, Queensland, Australia. Photographed on 4 August 1975. Arthur Chapman |
1980s
Dianne LUCAS LUPPI
Also known as: née Lucas, Dianne Lucas Luppi
Born: 30 December 1954 Special Achievements:
First woman to own, train, and ride her horse in the Mount Garnet Cup (Queensland) race meeting (amateur).
First woman employed by Far North Queensland Amateur Race Association to do Clerk of Course at biggest amateur race meeting in Australia.
1984 - First woman to compete against men in Open Bull Riding at Mount Garnet Rodeo (Queensland).
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| Lucey's Hotel, Mt Garnet, North Qld. 1984 |
1990s
In 1997 Kagara Limited acquired the mining project.
2000s
In 2000 the
original copper mine was reopened.
Around Mount Garnet
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| The Mount Garnet Hotel, QLD, was established by Denis Lucey in 1898 |
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| The Mount Garnet rodeo, QLD |
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| The Mount Garnet Hotel, QLD, was established by Denis Lucey in 1898 |
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| Mt Garnet, QLD |
The Innot Hot Springs Between Ravenshoe and Mt Garnet in Far Nth Qld
According to the Mamu people, the Innot springs were created in the Dreamtime when a large maritime turtle had a hot stone put in her stomach. She came to Innot Springs to warm the waters. From that day onwards, all big turtles had to stay in the sea, while small tortoises were allowed to live in the freshwater rivers on land.
Heritage listings
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| The Innot Hot Springs Between Ravenshoe and Mt Garnet in Far Nth Qld. Bathe in the springs by digging a hole in the creek bed where they bubble up, or visit the Innot Hot Springs Leisure and Health Park, which has six public pools of varying temperatures. |
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| Nettle Creek dredge, Innot Hot Springs, Nt QLD |
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| Former St David's Anglican Church, 24 Garnet Street, Mount Garnet, Queensland (built 1937) |
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| Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 3 Opal Street, Mount Garnet, QLD. Church relocated from Mungana to Mount Garnet 1939 |
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| Mt Garnet Races & Rodeo, QLD |
Things To Do and Places To Go
Mount Garnet Visitor Information Centre and Museum, LOT 2 Kennedy Hwy, Mount Garnet QLD 4872
Old Cemetery 80km south of Mt Garnet, in the Atherton Tablelands
here
Wurruma Swamp
Innot Hot Springs are located on the Kennedy Highway between the townships of Ravenshoe and Mount Garnet.
There is 29.77 km (18.50 miles) from Mt Garnet to
Irvinebank
