Millaa Millaa Falls

Last updated

Millaa Millaa Falls
MilaaMilaaFalls.jpg
Millaa Millaa Falls in September 2008
Australia Queensland relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Millaa Millaa Falls
Location Far North Queensland, Australia
Coordinates 17°29′44″S145°36′36″E / 17.49556°S 145.61000°E / -17.49556; 145.61000 [1] [2]
Type Plunge
Total height18.3 metres (60 ft) [3]
Number of drops1
WatercourseTheresa Creek
Millaa Millaa Falls
Australia Queensland location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Millaa Millaa Falls in Queensland
LocationTheresa Creek Road, Millaa Millaa, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates 17°29′47″S145°36′38″E / 17.4963°S 145.6106°E / -17.4963; 145.6106
Built-
Official nameMillaa Millaa Falls
Typestate heritage (landscape, built)
Designated5 December 2005
Reference no.602449
Significant period1950s (fabric)
1880s, 1909, 1920s (historical)
& 1950s onwards (social)
Significant componentstoilet block/earth closet/water closet, memorial - rock/stone/boulder, quarry, waterfall / water feature

Millaa Millaa Falls is a heritage-listed plunge waterfall at Theresa Creek Road, Millaa Millaa, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. [4] It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 5 December 2005. [5]

Contents

Milla Milla Falls Milla Milla Falls.jpg
Milla Milla Falls

The falls are adjacent to the town of Millaa Millaa on the Atherton Tableland. 'Millaa Millaa' is a MaMu Aboriginal phrase referring to the rainforest vine Elaeagnus Triflora whose fruit appears from May to February. A popular destination of international tour operators, the falls are 18.3 metres (60 ft) high with a pool suitable for swimming at their base. The Millaa Millaa Falls are accessed by sealed road off the Palmerston Highway about 5 minutes from the township of Millaa Millaa.

History

The Millaa Millaa Falls were discovered by Europeans during exploration of overland routes to connect the Herberton mining fields with Queensland coastal ports. The falls are named after the nearby township of Millaa Millaa. The name "Millaa Millaa" is derived from a phonetic adaptation of the Aboriginal word "Malay Malay", which in the language of the local Mamu Aboriginal people refers to the rainforest vine ( Elaeagnus triflora ), which fruit was a seasonal food source. This plant occurs throughout the surrounding area and is commonly known as the Millaa Millaa Vine. This is contrary to the popular belief that the name Millaa Millaa means either "water fall", "many waterfalls" or "plenty water", but does demonstrate how important the falls are in the regional psyche. [5]

In 1882 tracks were blazed through the rainforest close to the falls by both Sub Inspector Alexander Douglas (May 1882) and Christie Palmerston (October to December 1882). Palmerston also mapped an improved track through the area during 1884–1885, which subsequently became known as the Palmerston track. The popular belief that Palmerston camped at and named Millaa Millaa falls, which is in part commemorated by a monument at the site, cannot be substantiated from the historical record. [5]

A clearing at the Millaa Millaa Falls was used as a rest stop for the early horse and mule pack teams that traversed the Palmerston track when travelling to and from the Herberton mining field. This clearing was also used as a base for land surveyors working in the area in 1909 and as a camp for workers constructing the railway line between Malanda and the Millaa Millaa township in the 1920s. [5]

Also during the 1920s a quarry was established next to the Millaa Millaa Falls to supply a nearby crushing plant with stone, which was used to produce road-making materials. Blasting and excavation work at the quarry threatened to damage or destroy the falls, but due to the efforts of the Millaa Millaa Progress Association it was protected, and by the mid-1920s had become a popular stop for tours of the Atherton Tablelands. Conversely, the quarry, which was abandoned in 1927, was also partly responsible for the latter popularity and preservation of the falls because of the access that it provided to the site. [5]

In the late 1950s access to a popular swimming hole known as "Rawson's Pool" which was located on private property downstream from the falls was stopped and the focus then shifted to Millaa Millaa Falls. The access road to the quarry was upgraded and extended down to near the base of the falls and a small car park constructed. Also at this time, public facilities were added to the site including toilets, shelter shed, and barbeques. Further safety and interpretive improvements were carried out in 2002. In 2003, the quarry was converted into a car park and a walking track and steps created which lead down to the falls viewing area. In 2005 a biological toilet facility, shelter shed and interpretive bus shelters were built. Millaa Millaa Falls is now part of what is known within the tourism industry as the "waterfall circuit" near Millaa Millaa township, which also includes the Zillie and Elinjaa Falls. [5]

The Millaa Millaa Falls is an icon within the tourism industry, not only within North Queensland but also nationally and internationally. A 2008 search of the internet revealed at least 917 tour sites advertising the falls, with 276 containing photographs. The falls has also featured in numerous movies, documentaries and television commercials; advertising everything from Indian lotto to Swedish Timotei shampoo. The place is also used for a range of community events. [5]

Description

The Millaa Millaa Falls are approximately 18.3 metres (60 ft) in height and are formed from volcanic basalt which has weathered to create distinctive vertical striations (pipe formations) in the surface of the rock and which gives the falls its pleasing textural backdrop. There is a large pool below the falls that is surrounded by rainforest, except for a grassed viewing area facing the falls and a concrete block pad on the waters edge. [5]

A set of concrete steps leads from the lower bus park down to the viewing area. The bus park is separated from the viewing area by a low post and rail fence. A c. 1950 timber-framed weatherboard toilet block is located on the north-eastern side of the falls and remains in use. A biological toilet facility has been constructed on the northern side of the bus park (2005). A shelter shed and interpretive bus shelters have also been erected on the north-western end of the bus park (2005). A track with steps runs from the 1950s toilet block and terminates at the upper car park. [5]

There is a stone monument on the fence line, erected in 1982, at the western end of the lower bus park with a bronze plaque attached that commemorates the explorer Christie Palmerston. [5]

The Millaa Millaa Scenic Reserve also may contain other sites of heritage significance that have not been formally identified at this time. These include the original clearing near the falls and its associated campsite; railway objects located near the western boundary of the reserve adjacent to the Irwin Track; and blazed trees associated with survey and logging tracks within the reserve. [5]

Cultural references

Video filmed here include:

Heritage listing

Millaa Millaa Falls was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 5 December 2005 having satisfied the following criteria. [5]

The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.

Millaa Millaa Falls is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history due to its close association with the tracks, surveying, railways, roads and tourism, which aided the development and settlement of the Atherton Tableland region. At various times the immediate area around the falls was used as a rest stop for the early horse and mule pack teams that travelled along the Palmerston track on their way to and from the Herberton mining field; used as a depot for the first land surveyors working in the area; a camp for workers on the Millaa Millaa railway, and as a quarry for road materials. [5]

The place is important because of its aesthetic significance.

Millaa Millaa Falls is also a place of importance because of its aesthetic significance, which lies in both its natural beauty and picturesque qualities, and because of its iconic representation, both nationally and internationally. Images of the falls are one of the most recognised natural features from the Atherton Tablelands and are used by local council and Australian tourism operators to promote the region. The natural and visual integrity of the falls has changed little over time, which is evidenced by the numerous historical images, although the site access, public facilities, and viewing environs have been modified. [5]

The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

Because of Millaa Millaa Falls importance to the far north Queensland tourism industry and its historical utilization as a picnic and swimming venue, it has since the 1950s developed a strong social and cultural association with people of the region. Millaa Millaa Falls is also culturally important to the regional Mamu Aboriginal people, as it was a seasonal food source and camping area at the time of first European settlement of the area. The falls were also the first natural landmark to be associated with the area, even before the establishment of the Millaa Millaa Township. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxley Wild Rivers National Park</span> Protected area in New South Wales, Australia

The Oxley Wild Rivers National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia in the Port Macquarie-Hastings City Council and Walcha Shire councils. The 145,223-hectare (358,850-acre) park is situated 445 kilometres (277 mi) north of Sydney and is named in memory of the Australian explorer John Oxley, who passed through the area in 1818 and is one of the largest national parks in New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wooroonooran National Park</span> Protected area in Queensland, Australia

Wooroonooran National Park is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 1,367 km northwest of Brisbane, between Innisfail and Cairns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atherton Tableland</span> Fertile plateau in northern Queensland, Australia

The Atherton Tableland is a fertile plateau, which is part of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland, Australia. It has very deep, rich basaltic soils and the main industry is agriculture. The principal river flowing across the plateau is the Barron River, which was dammed to form the irrigation reservoir named Lake Tinaroo. Unlike many rural areas the Tablelands is experiencing a significant growth in population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herberton, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Herberton is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Herberton had a population of 855 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tolga, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Tolga is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Tolga had a population of 2,718 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malanda, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Malanda is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Malanda had a population of 1,985 people. The economy is based upon agriculture and tourism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barron Falls</span> Waterfall in Queensland, Australia

Barron Falls is a steep tiered cascade waterfall in Kuranda, Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. The falls are created by the Barron River descending from the Atherton Tablelands to the Cairns coastal plain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malanda Falls</span> Waterfall in Far North Queensland, Australia

The Malanda Falls is a cascade waterfall on the North Johnstone River, located in the Tablelands Region in the Far North of Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmerston Highway</span>

The Palmerston Highway, serves as a link between the southern part of the Atherton Tablelands and the Far North Queensland coastal strip, in Australia. Starting just north of Innisfail, from the Bruce Highway it winds through the Wooroonooran National Park to the township of Millaa Millaa, with no major road junctions. It terminates at an intersection with Old Palmerston Highway and Main Street. Its total length is 54.6 kilometres. From here State Route 25 continues west and then north as Malanda-Millaa Millaa Road, while Old Palmerston Highway continues south and then west as a Tourist Drive to where it meets the Kennedy Highway north of Ravenshoe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtain Fig Tree</span> Heritage-listed tree in Queensland, Australia

Curtain Fig Tree is a heritage-listed tree at Curtain Fig Tree Road, Yungaburra, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. It is one of the largest trees in Tropical North Queensland, Australia, and one of the best known attractions on the Atherton Tableland. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 3 December 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millaa Millaa, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Millaa Millaa is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Millaa Millaa had a population of 514 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of Eacham</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Shire of Eacham was a local government area of Queensland. It was located on the Atherton Tableland, a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range west of the city of Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Malanda, covered an area of 1,126.4 square kilometres (434.9 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1910 until 2008, when it amalgamated with several other councils in the Tableland area to become the Tablelands Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tablelands Region</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Tablelands Region is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia inland from the city of Cairns. Established in 2008, it was preceded by four previous local government areas which dated back more than a century. On 1 January 2014, one of those local government areas, the Shire of Mareeba, was re-established independent of the Tablelands Region.

The Tchupala Falls, a segmented waterfall on the Henrietta Creek, is located in the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Wet Tropics in the Far North region of Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cairns-to-Kuranda railway line</span> Railway line in Queensland, Australia

The Cairns-to-Kuranda Railway is a heritage-listed railway line from the Cairns Region to the Shire of Mareeba, both in Queensland, Australia. It commences at Redlynch, a suburb of Cairns and travels up the Great Dividing Range to Kuranda within the Shire of Mareeba on the Atherton Tableland. It was built from 1913 to 1915 by Queensland Railways. Components of it include Stoney Creek Bridge, the Rail Bridge over Christmas Creek, Kuranda railway station, and Surprise Creek Rail Bridge. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 August 1992. The railway is used to operate a tourist rail service, the Kuranda Scenic Railway. It forms part of the Tablelands railway line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malanda Falls Swimming Pool</span> Historic site in Queensland, Australia

Malanda Falls Swimming Pool is a heritage-listed swimming pool at Malanda Falls Park, Malanda, Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1906 onwards. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 5 February 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellinjaa Falls</span> Waterfall in Atherton Tableland Queensland, Australia

The Ellinjaa Falls is a ledge waterfall that is located on Ellinjaa Creek, on the Atherton Tableland in the North region of Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wooroonooran, Queensland</span> Suburb of Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia

Wooroonooran is a locality split among the Cairns Region, the Cassowary Coast Region and the Tablelands Region in Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Wooroonooran had no population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middlebrook, Queensland</span> Suburb of Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia

Middlebrook is a rural locality in the Tablelands Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Middlebrook had a population of 62 people.

Atherton–Malanda–Millaa Millaa Road is a continuous 39.0-kilometre (24.2 mi) road route in the Tablelands local government area of Queensland, Australia. It has two official names, Malanda–Atherton Road and Millaa Millaa–Malanda Road. The entire route is signed as part of State Route 25. Malanda–Atherton Road is a state-controlled district road, while Millaa Millaa–Malanda Road is part regional and part district.

References

  1. ↑ "Millaa Millaa Falls (QLD)". Gazetteer of Australia online. Geoscience Australia, Australian Government.
  2. ↑ "Millaa Millaa (entry 17365)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Millaa Millaa Falls". World of Waterfalls. 18 May 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Welcome to Millaa Millaa". Tablelands, Queensland, Australia: Tablelands Tourism. 25 June 2010. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Millaa Millaa Falls (entry 602449)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  6. ↑ Arthur, Ken (10 June 2009). "HERBAL ESSENCES UK - WATERFALL - KEN ARTHUR HAIR -" (Streaming video). Pepagency.com. YouTube. Retrieved 25 June 2010.[ dead YouTube link ]
  7. ↑ Shell, Karena (6 October 2009). "I gotta feelin', whooo-hooo!". Queensland, Australia: Karena Shell. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  8. ↑ Herb, Jen (5 July 2010). "Townsville, Queensland". Townsville, Queensland: Jen Herb. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  9. ↑ Hanagan, Ellie (31 July 2009). "Brusbabem Queensland – Ellie's Travels". Sorrento, Victoria, Australia: STA Travel. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  10. ↑ Roberts, Alexandra (4 April 2007). "Entries for Wednesday 4 April 2007". Warwick, United Kingdom: Alexandra Roberts. Retrieved 25 June 2010.

Attribution

CC-BY-icon-80x15.png This Wikipedia article incorporates text from "The Queensland heritage register" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 7 July 2014, archived on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were computed from the "Queensland heritage register boundaries" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 5 September 2014, archived on 15 October 2014).

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.