Barron Gorge
Located between Cairns and Kuranda in Djabugay country within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, the Barron Gorge formed as the Barron River's waters passed over the Atherton Tablelands' eastern escarpment., creating the 265-metre Barron Falls.
Stoney Creek Falls and Surprise Creek Falls carry the waters from two tributary streams into the gorge and form a significant attraction on the scenic Cairns-Kuranda railway line, with two trains making the return journey each day.
Work on a railway from Cairns to the Atherton Tablelands began in 1886, and the line to Kuranda was in place by 1891. Twenty-three people died working on the line, which needed fifteen tunnels and thirty-seven bridges on the twenty-two-kilometre ascent of the Macalister Range. Workers excavated three million cubic metres of earth in the process.
The 7.5-kilometre Skyrail Rainforest Cableway runs above the rainforest canopy beside the gorge.
The Barron Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station, with two 1200 kW turbo-alternators, harnessed the river's waters to generate Queensland's first hydroelectric power in 1935.
Links to add:
Barron Falls
Barron Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station
Barron River
Kuranda
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Stoney Creek Fall;s
Surprise Creek Falls
Wet Tropics World Heritage Area
