Atherton (Queensland)

Atherton ( ɑða'tɒn ) is the central town in the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland, Australia, and is located about 80 km southwest of Cairns. Atherton was named after one of its founders, John Atherton and got on 23 February 1886, the city law. The city lies on the slope of an extinct volcano and is surrounded by several small hills, known as the " Seven Sisters " ( German: Seven Sisters ) are known. The volcanic mountains and the tropical rain forest with its many waterfalls attract many tourists.

History

1875 James Venture Muligan was the first European to explore the region. Although he was looking for gold, but found tin near the present town of Herberton. This news reached John Atherton, who later also found tin at Tinaroo River.

John Atherton was born on August 9, 1837 in Lancashire, England. His family emigrated in 1844 to Australia and settled in Bald Blair near Armidale, New South Wales down. In 1857, he tended sheep in the district of Rockhampton with his brother James and lived in the Mount Hedlow farm. His family followed him 1860. 1873 Atherton took over the farm in the Burdekin River cashmere, but they sold two years later in 1875 and moved further west in the direction of today's Atherton Tablelands.

Originally called the area of ​​today's Atherton " Prior's Pocket" and the city evolved from logging camps. Mainly cedars were broken ( red cedar ) that once the entire Atherton Tablelands wooded tight. The first official town lands were offered on 23 February 1883, for sale.

The Chinese were indispensable for Colonize Atherton. There already existed a large Chinese settlement before the first Europeans settled in the region. One of the few remaining buildings from this period is the Hou Wang Temple.

Geography

The Atherton Tableland is an ideal region for recreation for tourists. There are many natural and cultural attractions. These include waterfalls, volcanic craters, historic mines cities, museums, exotic bird and wildlife watching in the tropical rainforest. Rivers and rainforests and national parks offer numerous opportunities for recreational activities.

750 - 835m:

  • Atherton 700m
  • Kairi 710m
  • Lake Tinaroo 670m
  • Tolga 760m
  • 620 square kilometers

Climate

Atherton is located in the tropics and therefore experiences only two seasons. The rainy season and the dry season ( en.: The wet and the dry). It rains very often six months. This is when the local population as "the drizzle " ( en.: The drizzle ) refers. The nearby Mareeba, however, advertises mockingly with 300 sunny days a year.

  • Summer 17-35 ° C
  • Winter 5-22 ° C

Flora and Fauna

The rainforest and the ever warm temperatures with lots of rain leave the region around Atherton as a green oasis in the otherwise rather influenced by Australian drought region stand out. The flora and fauna can be described as rich. On animals, the platypus, tree kangaroos and turtles are worth mentioning. While walking on a small trail in the nearby Yungaburra can often be look some platypus.

Population

Overall for the Shire of Atherton: 10912

  • Atherton: 6200
  • Herberton: 1500
  • Tolga: 935

Economy

The land around Atherton is used for the cultivation of many crops. Potatoes, sugar cane, mangoes, corn, avocados, peanuts. The Atherton Tablelands are one of the richest agricultural areas in Australia. The region lives from agriculture. At any time of the year is harvested and wanted something harvesters. The Grand Hotel and the Atherton Travellers Lodge convey workers to farmers. Backpackers are welcome workers.

Traffic

From Atherton leads the Gillies Highway Yungaburra and the Kennedy Highway to Mareeba and Herberton Road to Herberton.

Atherton only be reached by bus or private car. Whitecar coaches lead 18 trips a week to Cairns and back through. The route leads over Tolga, Walkamin, Mareeba and Kuranda and takes about 2:30 h The bus stops at both the airport as well as at the station in Cairns. Connections to Ravenshoe, Heberton and Chillagoe also exist.

There are the Atherton Taxi Service

Culture

Every year at the end of August celebrates the Atherton Maize Festival ( en.: Maize Festival) with a parade and the choice of corn queen. On this occasion a small fairground is set up. In the small town there are two restaurants ( en.: pubs ). The Grand Hotel and the Barron Valley ( BV) with live concerts and horse betting.

Education

Atherton has two primary schools, a secondary school and an independent school ( Grade 12 school ), as well as a TAFE campus. In addition, several day care centers are located in the city center.

  • Atherton State High School
  • Atherton State School
  • Jubilee Christian College
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
  • Tropical North Institute of TAFE

Management

Atherton is the seat of the Atherton Shire Council. The current mayor is Jim Chapman Cd.

Health

The Atherton Hospital is the hospital in the Tablelands Health District and is located in Atherton. It also maintains an emergency medical department.

Sons and daughters of the town

States and territories of Australia Local government areas of Australia Tablelands Region John Atherton (pioneer) Mining Yungaburra, Queensland Backpacking (travel) Kuranda, Queensland Ravenshoe, Queensland Chillagoe, Queensland Australian Bureau of Statistics
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