Mareeba Heritage Museum and Visitor Information Centre
Mareeba Heritage Museum and Visitor Information Centre
Mareeba Heritage Museum and Visitor Information Centre
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
About
Welcome to Mareeba Heritage Museum & Visitor Information Centre. Gain an insight into the region's history and attractions by visiting the Mareeba Heritage Museum & Visitor Information Centre. The Centre is situated 63kms from Cairns on the southern outskirts of Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands and is open from 9am - 4pm, Mon-Fri and 8am-3pm Sat-Sun. Closed only on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Annette PMelbourne, Australia232 contributionsInformative Museum on the History of MareebaA must do if staying in Mareeba or even passing through. Plenty of parking, toilets and a lovely cafe inside the Museum. Worth the $5.00 each to visit and you can also download an audio guide so take your phone in. The ticket is valid for 3 days if you wanted to return. We spent 2 hours looking at the exhibits and also had lunch in the cafe. I spy activities for the kids too, would highly recommend. Staff were very knowledgeable too so ask lots of questions.Thank you for your lovely review and we are glad you enjoyed your time with us. Travel Safe.Written 25 July 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited July 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 15 July 2024
- Bindi BHobart, Australia149 contributionsNice SpotSuper helpful & friendly staff. Would prefer the basic way to visit a museum by reading all the information while walking around. Not everyone has a smartphone phone or the ear pods to listen to the information through the process you HAVE to download to listen to. Not much help when your phone goes flat either. Has a cafe which is only accessible by paying the $5 entrance fee. Dog friendly. Very interesting history of the area. Large parking area outside for caravans etc.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 23 August 2024
- Barbara Miller7 contributionsInformative and entertaining.The historical museum is amazing, and the $5 entry fee is a bargain. There was plenty to entertain and inform us, and 2 hours went quickly, so if you're staying in the area it would be well worth a second visit. The volunteers were friendly, the cafe was good, and we were pleased to find this museum. Congratulations to the volunteers and the council for providing such a fantastic facility.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 6 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
285 reviews
Excellent
221
Very good
54
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
5
Helen C
2 contributions
Oct 2022
Might have been because it was a public holiday but museum was free on the day we visited. Might not have gone in if we'd had to pay $5 each because it doesn't look much from the road but hidden gems inside! Seriously old fashioned type museum with definite local flavour and focus. Very quaint and charming! The display focusing on the local tobacco industry was surprisingly interesting.
Written 10 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review and we are glad you enjoyed your time with us. Travel Safe.
Written 16 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
chamilton
Letchworth Garden City, UK8 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We loved our visit to this quirky, friendly and interesting museum. At $10 for four of us (under 16s are free) it was great value and full of historic items from the past life of this town. Much of the museum is outdoors and allows you to wander in and around historic buildings/structures. The cafe is situated in the middle of the exhibits, and had a lovely atmosphere and a surprisingly long and delicious menu. I was really pleased we called in.
Written 9 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review and we are glad you enjoyed your time with us. Travel Safe.
Written 14 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Chris W
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
We come to Mareeba each year to visit friends and regularly go the the Mareeba Heritage Centre for Coffee and Breakfast. On this visit we were told we had to pay a $5 entry fee each time you come to see a museum we have seen many times before. So $10 minimum spend for a coffee. Not me, we have had our last meal at the Heritage Centre on principal alone
Written 5 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our team of volunteers here at Mareeba Heritage Museum and Visitor Information Centre are committed to provide excellent customer service so I am terribly sorry to hear that our service was not to your satisfaction. The decision to implement an admission fee, results from impacts felt by the COVID pandemic, the uncertainty of a decrease in local government funding, along with increased competition for grants, dwindling fundraising efforts, reduced donations and decreases in earned income, along with the concerning decline of participating volunteers. We want the Mareeba Heritage Centre to continue to thrive as a viable and sustainable asset to the community. The sitting area of the Coffee House is nested inside the Heritage Museum and therefore requires the admission fee however, take-way coffees can be ordered without the fee. Wishing you safe travels.
Written 14 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JoDo43
Queensland, Australia138 contributions
Dec 2020
This museum is a tremendous example of what volunteers can achieve. The tobacco section of the museum is so interesting, and that industry played such an important part of the area. The original homestead house they have restored is an absolute credit, and must have taken thousands of volunteer hours to complete. Well done to everyone involved, and thanks for sharing it with your many visitors.
Written 9 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are super glad that you enjoyed your visit particularly the Tobacco Exhibit which is the largest in Australia and recognized as nationally significant. Jamieson House was finished a couple of years ago and is a true reflection of the commitment of Volunteers and the Mareeba community who donated generously. Travel safely and we hope to see you in the future.
Written 20 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rhondahau
Hervey Bay, Australia24 contributions
Sept 2021
I found it interesting and very well done with some cute sound effects in some areas. I especially liked it when a dummy in an outside dunny was saying he was in there as we approached it. It is clear that a lot of effort has been put into the museum. To top it off, entry is free or with donation.
Written 30 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. The dunny is a favourite of ours too! We are glad that you enjoyed your time whilst here. Safe travels.
Written 26 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
sydneysider48
Sydney, Australia1,121 contributions
Apr 2021
The museum was full of very interesting exhibits very well arranged and maintained. The exhibit about the history of the previously very important but now largely defunct tobacco industry was particularly interesting. The cafe provided a large undercover area and a good menu but unfortunately the coffee was very ordinary.
Written 24 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are super glad that you enjoyed your visit particularly the Tobacco Exhibit which is the largest in Australia and recognized as nationally significant. We apologize for the coffee and will pass this feedback on to the Coffee House. Travel safely and we hope to see you in the future.
Written 20 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Travellersal
Marcus Beach, Australia27 contributions
Oct 2021
We were absolutely delighted with the exhibitions on display. There is so much history to learn about for the region, we spent so much time there going through every section.
once finished we were able to buy lunch at the excellent cafe on site.
once finished we were able to buy lunch at the excellent cafe on site.
Written 30 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are glad that you enjoyed your time whilst here, including your time at the Coffee House. Safe travels.
Written 26 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Golfnut3977
Northcote, Australia139 contributions
Aug 2021
The museum has an excellent display about the development and demise of the tobacco industry around Mareeba. It explains the reason for building Lake Tinaroo and how the water was used to irrigate the tobacco crops. Now invaluable as a water supply for all types of agriculture. Another attraction in the museum is one of the early local houses which has been relocated and renovated at the site. The master bedroom furniture was all made from timber from the one tree.
It is worth spending a couple of hours looking through all the displays.
One of the best museums we have visited.
It is worth spending a couple of hours looking through all the displays.
One of the best museums we have visited.
Written 17 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are glad that you enjoyed your time whilst here. Safe travels.
Written 26 July 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
WorldTravla7
Cairns, Australia8,595 contributions
July 2022 • Friends
A group of 6 of us stopped in for breakfast at the café on the way out to Talaroo Hot Springs. I had been once before many years ago (just to the Museum) and it was nice to eat breakfast amongst so much local history. My breakfast was a true North Queensland original – Local Avocado Benny - eggs benedict creatively rendered with fried eggs on ciabatta with sliced tomato and avocado! There is a first time for everything. It tasted good, so no complaints from me. I also loved the large mural/painting of the waterfall in the café – though we are all waterfall chasers yet we could not work out which FNQ waterfall it was! We also had a quick look through the museum which has some excellent displays including a section about the history of tobacco as a driver of Mareeba’s economy in the past. Great memory – rocking out to Neneh Cherry’s ‘Buffalo Stance’ on the drive from Mareeba out to Atherton.
Written 7 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It is Emerald Creek Falls! Thank you for your review and we are glad you enjoyed your time with us. Travel Safe.
Written 16 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lesley P
1 contribution
July 2023 • Couples
I was appalled to find that we could no longer use the coffee shop without paying for entrance to the museum. As we only wanted coffee we were not willing to do this. The girl was quite unpleasant saying the rules have been changed. I did suggest that they would lose a lot of business with this rule. I was disappointed as I have been there many times in the past.
Written 25 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our team of volunteers here at Mareeba Heritage Museum and Visitor Information Centre are committed to provide excellent customer service so I am terribly sorry to hear that our service was not to your satisfaction.
The decision to implement an admission fee, results from impacts felt by the COVID pandemic, the uncertainty of a decrease in local government funding, along with increased competition for grants, dwindling fundraising efforts, reduced donations and decreases in earned income, along with the concerning decline of participating volunteers.
We want the Mareeba Heritage Centre to continue to thrive as a viable and sustainable asset to the community. The sitting area of the Coffee House is nested inside the Heritage Museum and therefore requires the admission fee however, take-way coffees can be ordered without the fee.
Wishing you safe travels.
Written 2 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
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