mining Centre

The Mining Museum

The Herberton Mining Museum 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 Museum 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 Museum

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 Musuem
The Herberton Room:
Vignettes of information about Herberton, the mining town that grew up to service the tinfields.
The Minerals Room:
A Mining Museum must have a mineral display! The Museum has several collections for your inspection.
Theatrette:
The Museum 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 Musuem.

Outside the Museum

Explorers Way

Risley Sculpture

The mine site:
A short walk along formed tracks outside the Museum 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.

Click for Great Northern Mine Information

Open 7 Days
9.00am to 4.00pm.
Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day .