Mainly sunny, but a bit cooler as Atherton and Mareeba are on the tablelands at about 400 metres elevation - temperature 5 to 18 degrees, with a heavy dew in the morning.
Mareeba is only about 30 km from Atherton, so we started at the Tourist Information Centre and Heritage Museum. Mareeba was first settled by Europeans in 1877. In 1829 Mareeba became the centre of a tobacco growing industry. In the 1950s the tobacco industry convinced the Queensland Government to build the Tinaroo Dam on the Barron River to provide irrigation for their crops. The Tinaroo Dam holds back a lake that is about 3/4 the size of Sydney Harbour. In 2003 the Australian Government cancelled the licences of all growers in the district. The district now supports the growing of avocadoes, mangoes, sugar cane, nuts, pineapples , and coffee.
The Heritage Museum covered the history of the area during aboriginal settlement, early European settlement, the exploration of the area including Cape York, covering mining, and agriculture including tobacco. One of the displays was a sleeping carriage from the Cairns to Herberton railway. Di thought the facilities were reminiscent of the St Petersburg to Moscow Sleeper from 2007.
After checking out the Heritage Museum we moved on to Coffee World at Coffee-Works in Mareeba. The best part was the tasting room, where we sampled Australian coffees and compared them to the best coffees in the world. We also got to taste a great many chocolates and liqueurs. The sampling was unlimited - taste as much as you like. Coffee World also has the largest collection of coffee artefacts in the world and provides hand held audio guides to explain the exhibits. Displays included espresso machines, roasting machines, coffee grinders, plungers, filters, percolators, samovars, and balance pots. They also had a historical display covering more than 350 years.
Mareeba Mazda - we'll stick with the mighty Navara.
Tobacco leaves drying on racks.
Steel telegraph pole used on the telegraph line to Cape York.
The blacksmith's shop.
Two Aces waiting for a beer at the bar.
Early toilet compartment on the Cairns to Herberton Railway - Di thought it reminiscent of the Moscow sleeper.
1920s road grader - designed for a horse team and converted to be towed by a tractor
Peninsula Pub Mareeba.
The first espresso machine - looks more like a Darlek from Dr Who.
Another early espresso machine.
Yet another early espresso machine.
An early coffee roasting machine.
Another early coffee bean roasting machine.
A selection of coffee makers.
Another coffee maker - we've got one of these at home.
A selection of wooden coffee grinders with draws - Betty had one of these.
More coffee grinders.
Go Cats!
