General News
28 July, 2026
Tribute to town’s pioneers
A MONUMENTAL new chapter of local history has come alive at the Babinda Museum with the launch of its latest permanent exhibition, ‘Life and Land’.
Focusing on the rich, complex history of farming in and around the Russell River basin, the display offers a deep dive into the “grit, innovation, and changing landscapes” that shaped the district.
The exhibition is housed in the recently-extended rear section of the Babinda Taskforce and adjacent museum building.
The display was made possible thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Cairns Regional Council, alongside crucial support from the Community Bank Babinda.
Run entirely by dedicated volunteers, the project was spearheaded by retired GP Dr Rod Catton and local resident Nolan Sheehan.
“The topic we put in for was the history of farming in the Cairns Regional Council area and we are the only group doing the history of farming,” Dr Catton said.
“We decided to concentrate on the history of the Babinda district. We’ve gone a little bit outside when we needed to, but we’ve tried to put together the history of the Babinda district and its farming and land use from before European settlers came.”
Visitors are taken on a chronological journey that begins long before the arrival of axes and ploughs.
“We have a significant section on Indigenous use of the land and the trees and the sea, going through to the early timber getters,” Dr Catton said.
“We discovered new information about how early they were here, which is mind-boggling: in six months they exhausted the red cedar and kauri on the Mulgrave and Russell (rivers). Before any settlers were here, they had cut the lot.”
The exhibition does not shy away from the harsher realities of the region’s frontier days.
“Then we go on to the process of settlers coming, selecting the land, all the processes, how they dealt with clearing, the very sad story about dispersing Aborigines,” Dr Catton said.
The display details the trial-and-error nature of early local agriculture.
“We have told that story all the way through, from early farming, timber, the early attempts to farm with coffee, cotton, tobacco, you name it.
“Most ventures failed, but pawpaws, cattle, bananas and sugar have been here for nearly 100 years,” Dr Catton said.
He said that the agricultural tapestry continued to evolve, adding, “in the last 30 or so years, we’ve had more of the exotic fruits come in ... adding a lot of colour and flavour to the district.”
A highlight of the exhibition is a vintage 1938 McCormick Deering T20 ‘TracTracTor’, generously loaned by Mr Sheehan.
The tractor – which remarkably still works, starting on petrol before switching over to run on kerosene – stands as a striking centrepiece of the machinery display.
The Babinda District Community Association (trading as the Babinda Taskforce) praised the grand effort.
“While this new exhibition space is intimate in size, it is monumental in history,” the Taskforce said in a post.
“We have maximised this boutique environment to create a focused, atmospheric tribute to the land.
“Through restored implements and storyboarded history, you will discover the grit, innovation, and changing landscape of the families who helped build Babinda.”
Local resident Frances Alley echoed the community’s gratitude. “What a great job the museum committee has done for our town – so proud of our volunteers,” she said.
For those who couldn’t make the opening, the Taskforce has reassured the public that there is no need to rush.
“If you missed out on opening day, don’t worry. There is still plenty of time to explore this boutique space.”
Because ‘Life and Land’ is a permanent installation, locals and tourists alike are encouraged to take their time absorbing the dense history on offer.
“We’ve constructed it in such a way with information that you won’t see it all in one hit,” Dr Catton said.
“So, people, including all the locals, can come back and back and back, and they’re likely to find new stories every time they come.”
The Babinda Museum normal opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 3pm, excluding public holidays.
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