We have had a really big day today. Left Kurrimine Beach and drove only 30 odd kilometres to Paronella Park at Mena Creek. We have been told so much about this place and told that it is a must to visit, well it has certainly lived up to all expectations. We have had a great day. We arrived here at about 10-30am and then Betty and David arrived about 11-30am. We went on the midday tour of the property which too about an hour and after lunch we did a self guided tour. Tonight we have been on the night tour - they light up all the old buildings and the waterfall.
The good part about this place is that your entry fee to the park is inclusive of the nights accommodation in the caravan park, so although we paid $35 each for our park entry it did not cost anymore to stay the night in the caravan park and we had power and water. We also got a free pass so that if we do come back this way it does not cost us to go back into the park, the pass lasts for two years.
Jose Paronella's dream was to build a castle. He arrived in Innisfail in 1913, having sailed from Catalonia. He worked hard for 11 years, creating his wealth by buying, improving and selling farms. He then returned to Spain and discovered that the girl he had left behind had married someone else so he proposed to her younger sister and brought her back to Australia where they purchased the land in Mena Creek. The first thing Jose built was the grand 47-step staircase so that they could shift building materials between the lower and upper level. Over 7000 trees were planted including a very impressive avenue of Kauri trees. It is incredible see all the old buildings, a lot built so that they have a direct view of the magnificent Mena Creek Falls. North Queensland's first hydro-electric plant was built in 1933 to power the 13 acre park. The park was opened to the public in 1935.
Jose Paronella was a man born way ahead of his time.
I could write lots more about Paronella Park and its history but it would take too long the website is - www.paronellapark.com.au - and I can assure you the story is well worth a read.
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| The Castle |
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| Grand Staircase |
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| Mena Creek Falls |
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| Refreshment Rooms |
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| Swimming Hole |
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| Falls from the swing bridge |
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| Swing Bridge Over Falls |
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| Falls at night |
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| Refreshment Room |
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| Fountain |
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