View of Lake Barrine from the Rain Forest Tour Boat, Queensland, Australia
Lake Barrine is a freshwater lake situated on the eastern parts of Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland, Australia, close to Lake Eacham. The lake and surrounds are protected within the Crater Lakes National Park and are accessible via the Gillies Highway. One of the greatest pleasures for many visitors to Lake Barrine is the family history that has seen three generations of one family associated with its care. George Curry fell in love with the Lake while surveying the region in the pioneering days. He and the Local Council and Forestry Department formed what was then called the Lake’s Trust. This trust sought to protect the lake and surrounding land from logging. In 1923 George applied for a grant and was given a perpetual lease over one acre of land on the shore of Lake Barrine. Living on the edge of the lake in a corrugated iron hut George first showed the visitors around Lake Barrine in a row boat. Today we run two specially built cruise boats with a total capacity of 170 which take our visitors on the tour around the lake in ease and luxury. The timber Tea House was originally built in the 1930′s as a dance hall and has since had many uses, including an aquatic centre, guest house, school and a convalescent home during World War II. Today the Tea House, nestled right on the lake’s edge, provides breakfasts, lunches, and their famous prize winning Devonshire teas. The 3rd generation of the Curry family still own & manage the Tea House and Rainforest Cruise and their commitment to the preservation of the natural heritage of the lake is unchanged. George and Margaret Curry pioneered tourist use of Lake Barrine in 1920, with George working as a ranger appointed by the Lakes Trust. The teahouse was built as a recreational hall in 1928 and converted to a guesthouse in 1935. During World War II it was used by the Australian Army as a convalescent home. The Curry family has been running the teahouse and boat trips around the lake for over 70 years.
Size: 3744px × 5616px
Location: Lake Barrine, QLD, Australia
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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