The
Mining Centre
The Herberton Mining and Visitor Information Centre is
built on a part of the original Reward Claim purchased
by the men who discovered payable tin mineralisation on this site 19th April,
1880.
It was fortuitous for Herberton, Cairns and North Queensland, that this
discovery occurred just as the gold fields further north were petering out,
leaving a struggling economy and destitute miners in their wake. Herberton
was a Godsend.
The Great Northern Mine, as it was named, developed rapidly.
First, the surface and easily worked outcrops were stripped of tin ore.
Then shafts were sunk
to work deeper deposits.
The first was the Gully Shaft which at one stage was powered by a horse
whim. The Eastern Shaft followed quickly and ultimately reached a depth of
600 feet (200 metres). The No. 3 Shaft began in 1907. However,
the whole claim is pock-marked by smaller shafts driven to follow tin wherever
it occurred.
Much of the original haulage machinery is still here at the shaft heads.
Some items are the only known examples of their kind in Australia.
All can be seen on a short interpreted walk on the site.
The Herberton Mining Centre seeks to
present and interpret to visitors information about the Great Northern site,
the history of tin mining in the district and how the town of Herberton
developed.
Inside the Centre
- Information:
The reception area has a range of brochures, maps and souvenirs for the
visitor. Helpful volunteers give that friendly touch.

-
Metals Room:
Tells a story of how the age of metals began, leading up to the timeline
for the discovery of tin at Herberton.
- The Mining Room:
Some information about alluvial and hard rock mining. Larger mining equipment
can be visited on a walk outside the Centre
- The Herberton Room:
Vignettes of information about Herberton, the mining town that grew up
to service the tinfields.
-
The Minerals Room:
A Mining Centre must have a mineral display! The Centre has several
collections for your inspection.
- Theatrette:
The Centre also has a small theatrette where multi-media presentations
can be shown. It is also used for informative lectures thus keeping alive an
old miners’ tradition of learning.
There is also a Documents and Research Room aimed at collecting, preserving,
and making available for study, documents about Herberton and tin mining.
Many of these have been donated to the Centre.
Outside the Centre
- The mine site:
A short walk along formed tracks outside the Centre takes you past the
relics of the mines that made up the Great Northern Claim - one of the
richest on the tinfield. The surface winding plant is described as ‘the
most intact in North Queensland’. The whole of the site is heritage
listed.
- Gully Shaft:
The first shaft and the reason Cairns exists today. At one time it was
powered by a horse whim.
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The Horse Whim
- The Eastern Shaft:
Begun in 1886, it is over 600 feet (200 metres) deep.
At one stage it employed 50 men. Some of the machines are the only examples
left in Australia.
- The New Gully (No 3) Shaft
Sadly without its headframe, but with most of its surface machinery still
present, from the small winding wheels and boilers right through to the
bigger gear needed as the shaft went deeper.
Open 7 Days
9.00am to 4.00pm.
Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day.
Contact us
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