|
Atherton
Atherton:
General Information:
-
Location: 94Km South-West of Cairns.
-
Elevation: It is 753M above sea-level.
-
Major service centre for the Atherton
Tablelands.
- Atherton has a population of approximately
seven thousand people and is the bustling centre of a farming district.
- It is home to well known attractions such as Fascinating Facets and the Crystal
Caves.
- The town offers good shopping opportunities with 'Woolworth's' Supermarket open seven days
a week for all food requirements.
- One may eat at the café's on the main road, at KFC (Kentucky Fried
Chicken) or at the Pagoda Chinese Restaurant
found upon entrance to the town coming from Yungaburra.
- Various activities are offered for many interests.
- There is a Golf Club for golfing,
also, bowls, indoor cricket and ten pin bowling is available.
- Steam Train Rides are
offered by the restored 1920's D17 steam loco which takes visitors on a run from Atherton
to Herberton.
History:
-
The town was named after John Atherton.
-
Atherton was first settled by Europeans in
the early 1880's as a camp for cedar-cutters.
-
It was originally named 'Prior's Pocket'
after a family of timber getters.
-
In 1885 it was surveyed and renamed Atherton.
-
Atherton was established as a stopover point
on the roads from the coast to the Herberton tin fields.
-
At it's peak, a population of around 1100
Chinese people lived in Atherton.
-
They worked for the timber-cutters and
farmers producing vegetables for the miners.
-
Many of the Chinese people left Atherton
after 1907.
-
Much of the land was taken over by soldier
settlers after World War 1.
Recent Industries:
-
Due to the rich, red volcanic soils of the
area (approximately 30M deep) the land is very useful.
-
It produces maize, potatoes, peanuts,
macadamia nuts and avocados.
-
It is also a well established dairy area with
its own butter factory, which was opened in 1909 and a dairy co-operative,
which was established in 1914.
|
