Today we went to Paronella Park, which is located in Mena Creek, about 25 k’s from Cowley Bay. It was so unique that I’ve dedicated a whole blog to this one place. I can’t do it justice here so I suggest you “google” it, you won’t be disappointed.

So to give you a quick overview, Jose Paronella emigrated to Australia in 1913 from Spain and made his money in the cane fields here in FNQ. He decided to build his own place or park on 13 acres of rainforest at Mena Creek, about 25 k’s south of Innisfail. He even built Queensland’s first Hydro Electric system in 1933 to power his park, which was highly successful. The system went into disrepair over 40 years ago when the property was sold but in 2009, it was refurbished and now the whole property is powered by Hydro Electric power generated from the Mena Creek Falls on a 90 year old generator, it even puts power back into the grid.

Jose’s first building was a grand staircase to enable the materials for his house to be brought up from the water’s edge. He built his own house and a castle, then built refreshment rooms, tennis courts, even a grand ballroom that became a picture theatre on the weekends. Also, picnic grounds, Kauri forest, a tunnel thru to Falls named in honour of his daughter along with other buildings. He opened his park to the public in 1935 to enjoy. Jose died in 1948, at a relatively young age of 60 and left his wife and 2 children to continue his dream.

Unfortunately many Floods and Cyclones from 1946 to the late 70’s took terrible toll on the property and it was sold off to its current owners who have spent many years re-building Jose’s dream after Mother Nature and the elements have tried their hardest to destroy.

The photos below show a glimpse of the park but as “Molly” used to say, do yourself a favour and get up here and see it!

The Grand Staircase.