Atherton is the hub of the Atherton Tableland region in Queensland, Australia, located at , 752 m above sea level. Its population is approximately 5,800 persons. The climate is tropical. Atherton was named after one of its founders, John Atherton, it became a town on February 23 1886. Built on the side of an extinct volcano it is surrounded by several small hills known as the Seven Sisters. These volcanic mountains as well as the crystal caves, attract tourists.

History of Atherton

Atherton was explored by JV Mulligan in 1875. The area was named after John Atherton, a pioneer pastoralist, who settled near the town which now bears his name, and was the first to find tin in northern Queensland.

John Atherton was born on 9 August 1837 in Lancashire, England. His family migrated to Australia in 1844 and settled in Bald Blair near Armidale NSW. In 1857 with his brother James, he drove sheep to the Rockhampton district of Queensland and acquired Mount Hedlow station. His family followed, droving cattle in 1860. In 1873 Atherton took up Cashmere Station at the headwaters of the Burdekin River, but sold out in 1875 and moved west to the tableland country.

Geography

Atherton Tableland is an ideal recreation area for all tourists, offering a wide range of natural and man made attractions, including: waterfalls, extinct volcanic craters, historic mining towns, museums, bird life, wild life, and rainforests in the National Parks. Activities available include: swimming, canoeing, sailing, fishing, and bush walking.

Average temperatures

• Summer 17–35 °C
• Winter 5–22 °C

Average rainfall

• 1360mm – (annual)

Elevation

750–835 m (2468 feet):

• Atherton 700m
• Kairi 710m
• Lake Tinaroo 670m
• Tolga 760m

Size

• 620 Square Kilometres

Population

• Total for Atherton Shire: 10853

Industries

Sugar Cane, peanuts, mangoes, maize/corn, potatoes, avocados, macadamia nuts, dairy & beef cattle.

External link

• Travel Guide
• Historical weather of Atherton