History of Town
Malanda, a rural town on the Johnstone River on the Atherton Tableland, is 50 km south-west of Cairns.
Originally known as Tutamoulin, Malanda was surveyed for closer-settlement farms in 1906, and a township was surveyed three years later. Land sales occurred the following year, coinciding with the extension of the Cairns railway. Owing to the place name's similarity to Tumoulin on the nearby Evelyn Tableland it was changed to Malanda when the railway station was opened. It is thought that the name derived from an Aboriginal word describing the upper Johnstone River or a place on the river.
The Golden Grove factory at Atherton (1913) was the main centre, but in 1921 it opened a branch at Malanda. Three years later operations were transferred to Malanda, but an active co-operative factory was opened at Millaa Millaa (22 km distant) in 1929. When Malanda was described in Pugh's Queensland Directory in 1925 it had two cheese factories, two dairy factories, a bacon factory, several stores and tradespeople, a sawmill and the shire offices. Anglican, Catholic and Methodist churches were also opened during the 1920s, along with the Gillies Highway from Gordonvale, near Cairns (1926). St James Catholic Church (1925) in Monash Avenue is listed on the Queensland heritage register.
During World War II allied servicemen, including many Americans, stimulated the demand for fresh milk, and the Malanda factory developed the post-war 'world's longest milk run', by rail to Mount Isa, Cloncurry and Mary Kathleen, and to Rockhampton, Mackay and Caboolture during a southern drought. Amalgamation of dairy factories went Malanda's way, with the closures of Ravenshoe (1957) and Millaa Millaa (1973). A prosperous post-war dairy industry led to Malanda becoming the district's most populous town. A secondary department was added to the school in 1949 and a separate high school was opened in 1963. The closure of the railway the next year was not a serious blow as road tankers and buses handled the milk and Tableland tourist traffic.
Originally known as Tutamoulin, Malanda was surveyed for closer-settlement farms in 1906, and a township was surveyed three years later. Land sales occurred the following year, coinciding with the extension of the Cairns railway. Owing to the place name's similarity to Tumoulin on the nearby Evelyn Tableland it was changed to Malanda when the railway station was opened. It is thought that the name derived from an Aboriginal word describing the upper Johnstone River or a place on the river.
The Golden Grove factory at Atherton (1913) was the main centre, but in 1921 it opened a branch at Malanda. Three years later operations were transferred to Malanda, but an active co-operative factory was opened at Millaa Millaa (22 km distant) in 1929. When Malanda was described in Pugh's Queensland Directory in 1925 it had two cheese factories, two dairy factories, a bacon factory, several stores and tradespeople, a sawmill and the shire offices. Anglican, Catholic and Methodist churches were also opened during the 1920s, along with the Gillies Highway from Gordonvale, near Cairns (1926). St James Catholic Church (1925) in Monash Avenue is listed on the Queensland heritage register.
During World War II allied servicemen, including many Americans, stimulated the demand for fresh milk, and the Malanda factory developed the post-war 'world's longest milk run', by rail to Mount Isa, Cloncurry and Mary Kathleen, and to Rockhampton, Mackay and Caboolture during a southern drought. Amalgamation of dairy factories went Malanda's way, with the closures of Ravenshoe (1957) and Millaa Millaa (1973). A prosperous post-war dairy industry led to Malanda becoming the district's most populous town. A secondary department was added to the school in 1949 and a separate high school was opened in 1963. The closure of the railway the next year was not a serious blow as road tankers and buses handled the milk and Tableland tourist traffic.
The water is so clear and inviting to swim only thing right now its bloody cold.
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Some of the milking fleet they are in paddocks all over the place
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we visited here and the falls are just out of town and a large carpark greets you and the info centre is here as well
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So Many places for us to visit, glad we are in area for next 8 weeks or we might miss something
Gallo Dairy Land and Chocolates
I am in heaven, the smells of chocolate is burning holes in the senses as you walk towards the rows of chocolate in so many tastes it is almost too much.
Now which one do we get to try only of course
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Front Entrance to Choc Heaven
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Someone heading towards the Choc Samples
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The Cheese making Room, we will come back during the time they will be making cheese next week
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This is the future milking Fleet resting up and greeting the people
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