Babinda

History

Babinda takes its name from the local Indigenous Australian language for mountain. Other sources, however, claim it is a Yidinji word for water, possibly referring to the high rainfall of the area. Operations to build a sugar mill commenced in 1914 and support services were expanded around this (see Babinda Sugar Mill). Babinda State School opened on 4 November 1914. Initially occupying temporary premises, the school's first permanent site was 24-34 Church Street (), now Babinda Swimming Pool and adjacent properties. In 1963, it expanded to offer secondary schooling to Year 10. The school relocated to its present site in Boulders Road in 1969, although it continued to use some facilities on the old site until 1973. In 1983, the school expanded to offer secondary schooling to Year 12. Babinda Post Office opened by 1915 (a Babinda Creek receiving office had been open since 1891). The Babinda Sugar Mill opened on 15 September 1915. It closed on 23 February 2011. It was the main source of revenue and economic activity in the local area. Babinda was known for historically being a “sugar town” and the Mill was described as being the “lifeblood of the town”. On 20 April 1916, the Cane Beetles March commenced at Mooliba (now Mirriwinni). It was a snowball march to recruit men into the Australian Imperial Force during World War I at a time when enthusiasm to enlist had waned after the loss of life in the Gallipoli campaign. The march began at Mooliba with 4 men, passing through Babinda, Aloomba, Gordonvale, and Edmonton, and ending in Cairns 60 kilometres later with 29 recruits. Babinda Presbyterian church was officially opened on Sunday 5 November 1916 by Reverend S. Mitchell. On Sunday 18 March 1917, Bishop John Heavey laid the foundation for Babinda's Catholic…

Geography

Babinda is located south of Cairns. The town is noted for its proximity to Queensland's two highest mountains Mount Bartle Frere (Queensland's highest peak) and Mount Bellenden Ker. The Bruce Highway enters the locality from the south (Mirriwinni), passes through the town, and exits to the north (Bellenden Ker). The North Coast railway line also enters the locality from the south (Mirrinwinni), passes through the town, and exits to the north (Bellenden Ker). The locality was served by two railway stations: * Babinda railway station, serving the town () * Palma railway station, once serving the north of the locality but now abandoned ()

Most-observed species

• Australasian Figbird

  Sphecotheres vieilloti Vigors & Horsfield, 1827 · Aves
  403
• Black Butcherbird

  Melloria quoyi (R.P.Lesson & Garnot, 1827) · Aves
  402
• Yellow-spotted Honeyeater

  Meliphaga notata (Gould, 1867) · Aves
  382
• Green Oriole

  Oriolus flavocinctus (King, 1826) · Aves
  344
• Masked Lapwing

  Vanellus miles (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  313
• Metallic Starling

  Aplonis metallica (Temminck, 1824) · Aves
  310
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

  Cacatua galerita (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  282
• Varied Triller

  Lalage leucomela (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) · Aves
  275

Most recent

• M 3.6 — 2011-03-15
  30 km NE of Innisfail Estate, Australia