Aborigines aside,
Australia is a relatively young country. This, combined with a long history of
migration has established a fairly multicultural society in Australia, with
many individuals bringing parts of their history and culture, varying from foods and languages to traditional celebrations, with them and incorporating them in to their
new lives down under.
As a result threads of different cultures can often be
found, providing a diverse, and often eclectic, variety of places to explore.
Paronella Park is just such a place.
Originally
constructed by an eccentric but passionate, and clearly determined Spaniard,
Paronella Park was the dream of Jose Paronella, who arrived in nearby Innisfail
in 1913.
One man's dream
Having brought
his (presumably equally adventurous) wife to Australia from Spain, Jose and his bride bought
the 13-acre plot by Mena Creek and started turning it into their own private
paradise.
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| The Grand Staircase, Paronella Park, Queensland, Australia |
The property
features the cottage they originally lived in, the castle, a grand staircase
down to the lake, North Queensland’s first hydroelectric plant that provided
them with electricity, tennis courts, fountains, a tunnel, and acres of
beautifully landscaped gardens featuring over 7,000 trees. Not a bad effort for
a Spanish pastry chef!
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| Paronella Park Castle, Queensland, Australia |
The buildings
The family initially
lived in the hand-built stone cottage that now houses a small museum
collection but, on completion of their castle, they opened their home to friends and family, often hosting
large groups to watch movies, swim in the lake, play tennis and party in the
grand ballroom. It must have been quite a place in its heyday.
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| Paronella Park Cottage, Queensland, Australia |
The gardens and
critters
There are many
adventures to be had among the 70 different flora species in the gardens, such
as looking out for bats in the tunnel and observing turtles nesting on the
creek, making it a great place to bring little explorers.
Other animals
visitors are likely to encounter include the characterful Australian Brush
Turkey, bright blue Ulysees Butterfly, Northern Bandicoot, Green Tree Snakes, Sunbirds and
Spectacled Flying Foxes.
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| Paronella Park gardens, Queensland, Australia |
Something
different
The park is
certainly unique, and it is quite incredible how much Jose Paronella and his
family achieved, remembering construction took place between 1929 and 1935.
After Jose’s death, the family sold the property, having run into trouble
meeting the maintenance costs.
Much of the
castle is in ruins now, following a fire and two cyclones, but the cottage and
gardens survived well, and care is being taken to maintain the
heritage-listed property true to its original design.
If you want to
see where passion can take you, a trip to Paronella Park will make an interesting stop on your next trip to Far North Queensland.
