View source for Mareeba

{{This|the town|the local government area|Shire of Mareeba|WWII freighter|SS Mareeba}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2012}}
{{GeoGroup}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                = town
| name                = Mareeba
| state               = qld
| image               = Mareeba.jpg
| caption             = 
| coordinates         = {{coord|-16.9969|145.4230|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Mareeba (town centre)}}
| pop                 = <!-- populates automatically -->
| pop_year            =
| pop_footnotes       =
| established         = 1877
| postcode            = 4880
| area                = 480.3
| timezone            = [[AEST]]
| utc                 = +10:00
| dist1               = 62.6 <!-- road distances as per template instructions -->
| dir1                = W
| location1           = [[Cairns]]
| dist2               = 385
| dir2                = NNW
| location2           = [[Townsville]]
| dist3               = 1744
| dir3                = NNW
| location3           = [[Brisbane]]
| dist4               = 
| dir4                = 
| location4           = 
| lga                 = [[Shire of Mareeba]]
| stategov            = [[Electoral district of Cook|Cook]]
| fedgov              = [[Division of Kennedy|Kennedy]]
| maxtemp             = 29.0
| mintemp             = 16.6
| rainfall            = 915.3
| near-n              = [[Biboohra, Queensland|Biboohra]]
| near-ne             = [[Koah, Queensland|Koah]]
| near-e              = [[Lamb Range, Queensland|Lamb Range]]
| near-se             = [[Danbulla, Queensland|Danbulla]]<br/>[[Tinaroo, Queensland|Tinaroo]]
| near-s              = [[Tolga, Queensland|Tolga]]
| near-sw             = [[Walkamin, Queensland|Walkamin]]
| near-w              = [[Chewko, Queensland|Chewko]]
| near-nw             = [[Paddys Green, Queensland|Paddys Green]]
}}
'''Mareeba''' {{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|r|iː|b|ə}}<ref>''[[Macquarie Dictionary|Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition]]'' (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. {{ISBN|1-876429-14-3}}</ref> is a rural town and [[Suburbs and localities (Australia)|locality]] in the [[Shire of Mareeba]] in [[Far North Queensland]], Australia.<ref>{{cite QPN|20937|Mareeba|town|access-date=13 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite QPN|48746|Mareeba|locality|access-date=13 June 2016}}</ref>  Between 2008 and 2013, it was within the [[Tablelands Region]]. The town's name is derived from an [[Indigenous Australian|Aboriginal]] word meaning ''meeting of the waters''.<ref>queenslandplaces.com.au/mareeba</ref> In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Mareeba had a population of 11,825 people.<ref name=Census2021/>

== Geography ==
The town is {{convert|417|m|ft}} above [[sea level]] on the confluence of the [[Barron River (Queensland)|Barron River]], Granite Creek and Emerald Creek.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

The town's main street is the [[Mulligan Highway]] which branches off from the [[Kennedy Highway]] when coming in from Cairns (63.3&nbsp;km; 40 miles) away passing localities such as [[Speewah, Queensland|Speewah]], [[Kuranda, Queensland|Kuranda]] and [[Barron Gorge, Queensland|Barron Gorge]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

The [[Tablelands railway line, Queensland|Tablelands railway line]] enters the locality from the north ([[Biboohra, Queensland|Biboohra]]), passes through the town, and exits to the west ([[Chewko]]).<ref name="globe">{{Queensland Globe|access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> The locality is served by the following railway stations (from north to south):

* Floreat railway station, now abandoned ({{coord|-16.9799|145.4166|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Floreat railway station}})<ref name="railwaystations">{{Cite web |date=2 October 2020 |title=Railway stations and sidings - Queensland |url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/84fff9a0-e315-4844-9c4d-63934562a9bd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005070354/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/84fff9a0-e315-4844-9c4d-63934562a9bd |archive-date=5 October 2020 |access-date=5 October 2020 |website=Queensland Open Data |publisher=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref>
* '''Mareeba railway station''' ({{coord|-16.9928|145.4212|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Mareeba railway station}})<ref name="railwaystations" />
* Turkinje railway station, now abandoned ({{coord|-17.0852|145.4364|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Turkinje railway station}})<ref name="railwaystations" />

The [[Lotus Glen Correctional Centre]] is located in [[Arriga, Queensland|Arriga]], 14&nbsp;km; 9 miles outside Mareeba.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Visitor Information|url=https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/85199037-0ca8-4b5f.../lotus-glen.pdf|access-date=3 February 2018|website=Department of Justice and the Attorney General}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

==History==
Prior to European settlement, the area around Mareeba was inhabited by the [[Muluridji|Muluridji people]], who spoke a [[Muluridji language|Guugu Yalandji dialect]]. They maintained a hunter/gatherer existence in the area between [[Mount Carbine, Queensland|Mount Carbine]], Mareeba, Rumula (near [[Julatten, Queensland|Julatten]]) and Woodville (near [[Canoona]]), mainly concentrated between [[Biboohra, Queensland|Biboohra]] and [[Mount Molloy, Queensland|Mount Molloy]]. In the local Aboriginal language, Mareeba means meeting of the waters - referring to the point at which the Barron River is joined by Granite Creek.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

On 26 May 1875, [[James Venture Mulligan]] became the first European officially to see the future site of Mareeba when he rode up the eastern bank of the Barron River, and passed the junctions of Emerald Creek and Granite Creek.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

The Mareeba area was first settled by Europeans in 1877 by [[John Atherton (pioneer)|John Atherton]], who arrived with cattle at Emerald End, which is just north of the town today. Mareeba quickly became a busy coach stop for [[Cobb & Co]] on the road from [[Port Douglas, Queensland|Port Douglas]] to [[Herberton, Queensland|Herberton]]. When the [[railway]] arrived in 1893, Mareeba grew into a busy town.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

Mareeba Post Office opened on 25 August 1893 (a [[receiving office]] named Granite Creek had been open from 1891). A Mareeba Diggings Post Office opened by 1893 and closed in 1905.<ref name="Post Office">{{Cite web  | last = Phoenix Auctions History  | title = Post Office List  | publisher = Phoenix Auctions  | url = http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&filter=*Mareeba*  | access-date = 3 March 2021  | archive-date = 13 May 2024  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240513000126/http://www.phoenixauctions.com.au/cgi-bin/wsPhoenix.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=QLD&filter=%2AMareeba%2A  | url-status = live  }}</ref>
[[File:Mareeba State School, 1916.jpg|left|thumb|Mareeba State School, 1916]]
Mareeba Provisional School opened on 28 August 1893 with 46 students under head teacher Denis Horan; by December that year, there were 96 students. It became Mareeba State School on 1 January 1899.<ref name=":0">{{Cite QldSchool|access-date=18 April 2019}}</ref> In 1940, it was designated a Rural School, meaning that it taught more practical skills needed by farming families, such as agriculture for boys and needlework for girls.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2020-04-19 |title=History |url=https://mareebass.eq.edu.au/our-school/history |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=Mareeba State School |language=en |archive-date=2 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002172102/https://mareebass.eq.edu.au/our-school/history |url-status=live }}</ref>

St Thomas of Villanova Catholic School opened on 1 January 1909.<ref name=":0" /> St Thomas' celebrated their centenary in 2009.<ref>{{Citation|author1=St Thomas's Parish School (Mareeba, Qld)|title=St Thomas's Parish School Mareeba : centenary 100 years|date=2009|publisher=Rena Ceola|isbn=978-0-646-51350-8}}</ref> The Mareeba parish of the Roman Catholic Vicariate Apostolic of Cooktown (now the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns) was established in 1911.<ref name=":3" />

[[Ambulance Services|Ambulance services]] commenced in Mareeba in 1922 with an honorary ambulance officer issued with a [[First aid kit|first-aid kit]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mareeba Ambulance History |url=https://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/235170/mareeba-ambulance-history.pdf |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=[[Queensland Ambulance Service]] |page=1 |archive-date=14 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241014013920/https://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/235170/mareeba-ambulance-history.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1942, Mareeba acquired a rail ambulance to transport patients by train. It was one of the last [[Rail ambulance|rail ambulances]] in Queensland with its last patient transported in 1983.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mareeba Ambulance History |url=https://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/235170/mareeba-ambulance-history.pdf |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=[[Queensland Ambulance Service]] |archive-date=14 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241014013920/https://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/235170/mareeba-ambulance-history.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rail Ambulance |url=https://www.mareebaheritagecentre.com.au/rail-ambulance |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Mareeba Heritage Centre |language=en-AU |archive-date=26 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241026215935/https://www.mareebaheritagecentre.com.au/rail-ambulance |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 1942 to 1945 during [[World War II]], up to 10,000 Australian and US service personnel used [[Mareeba Airfield]] as a staging post for battles in [[New Guinea]] and the [[South West Pacific theatre of World War II|South West Pacific theatre]]. The Americans referred to it as Hoevet Field in honour of Major Dean Carol "Pinky" Hoevet who was killed on 16 August 1942. Units that were based at Mareeba included [[No. 5 Squadron RAAF|No. 5 Squadron]] of the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF), [[No. 100 Squadron RAAF]], the Australian 33rd Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, the [[19th Operations Group|19th Bomb Group]] of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] ( USAAF), the [[43rd Air Mobility Operations Group|43rd Bomb Group USAAF]] and the [[8th Operations Group|8th Fighter Group USAAF]]. For a period of two years during World War II, Mareeba State School was taken over by the army, so St Thomas’ Catholic School accommodated the entire school population of Mareeba.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" />

In 1949, Mareeba State School expanded to offer secondary schooling with an initial enrolment of 17 students. In 25 January 1960, [[Mareeba State High School]] opened as a dedicated secondary school and Mareeba State School resumed its role as a primary school.<ref name=":0" />

Mareeba Library opened in 1958. It underwent a major refurbishment in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 2017|title=Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-17|url=http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130022546/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf|archive-date=30 January 2018|access-date=30 January 2018|website=Public Libraries Connect|publisher=[[State Library of Queensland]]|page=14}}</ref>

Mareeba is also home to an [[Albanian Australian]] community that dates from the interwar period.<ref name="Volz19">{{cite journal|last=Volz|first=Martin|title=Tropical tapestry - North Queensland is home to a diverse range of communities of people who choose to live amid the forests and fruit|url=https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=201000344;res=IELAPA;type=pdf|journal=Big Issue Australia|issue=342|year=2009|pages=19|access-date=14 August 2020|archive-date=7 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107234208/https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/IELAPA.201000344|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Davis">{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Sam|title=Keeping the faith|url=https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/04/28/2884762.htm|date=28 April 2010|access-date=10 August 2019|df=dmy-all|archive-date=5 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505050908/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/04/28/2884762.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Haveric"/> Built by local Albanian Australians, the [[Mareeba Mosque]] was opened on [[Anzac Day in Queensland|Anzac Day]], 1970 and is dedicated to Australian soldiers who lost their lives in war.<ref name="Carne191193">{{cite book|last=Carne|first=J.C.|title=Lectures on North Queensland history|date=1984|publisher=University of North Queensland|editor-last=Dalton|editor-first=B. J.|pages=191–193|chapter=Moslem Albanians in North Queensland|access-date=10 August 2020|chapter-url=http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:241825/Lectures_on_NQ_History_S4_CH9.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000056/http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:241825/Lectures_on_NQ_History_S4_CH9.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Haveric">{{cite book|last=Haveric|first=Dzavid|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QBemDwAAQBAJ&q=Shepparton+Albanian+mosque&pg=PT72|title=Muslims making Australia home: Immigration and Community Building|publisher=Melbourne University Publishing|year=2019|isbn=9780522875829|access-date=14 December 2020|archive-date=7 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207115016/https://books.google.com/books?id=QBemDwAAQBAJ&q=Shepparton+Albanian+mosque&pg=PT72|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BarYil1178">{{cite journal|last1=Barry|first1=James|last2=Yilmaz|first2=Ihsan|year=2019|title=Liminality and Racial Hazing of Muslim Migrants: Media Framing of Albanians in Shepparton, Australia, 1930-1955|journal=Ethnic and Racial Studies|volume=42|issue=7|pages=1178|doi=10.1080/01419870.2018.1484504|s2cid=149907029|doi-access=free|hdl=10536/DRO/DU:30109598|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

On 24 January 2006, St Stephen's Catholic College opened after a nearly 10-year approval process regarding the provision of Catholic secondary education.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of the College|url=http://sscc.qld.edu.au/our-college/history-of-the-college/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204000110/http://sscc.qld.edu.au/our-college/history-of-the-college/|archive-date=4 February 2018|access-date=3 February 2018|website=St Stephen's Catholic College|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In October 2011, most of the land (209 hectares; 516 acres) of the former state farm / research station at [[Kairi, Queensland|Kairi]] was sold by the [[Queensland Government]], retaining only 26 hectares (65 acres). The sale of the land was to fund the establishment of the Agri-Science Hub at Peters Street in Mareeba. The hub focusses on agricultural research and development, together with education and training. [[James Cook University]] is a partner of the hub, researching [[tropical agriculture]], [[aquaculture]] and [[biosecurity]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/Id/77231|title=$6.95 million for Mareeba agri-science hub|last=Mulherin|first=Tim|author-link=Tim Mulherin|date=24 October 2011|website=Media Statements|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129063029/http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/Id/77231|archive-date=29 January 2017|url-status=live|access-date=29 January 2017}}</ref> The hub opened on 16 December 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/Id/78192|title=$6.5 million Mareeba Agriscience Hub officially opened|last=Mulherin|first=Tim|author-link=Tim Mulherin|date=16 December 2011|website=Media Statements|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129063935/http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/Id/78192|archive-date=29 January 2017|url-status=live|access-date=29 January 2017}}</ref>

In the [[2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum]], 85% of Mareeba's residents voted No which was one of the largest proportion of No votes in the country.<ref name="mt8">{{cite news |last1=Dansie |first1=Meghan |last2=Byrne |first2=Conor |date=22 October 2023 |title=More than 85 per cent of Mareeba voted No to the Voice. What do residents see as the future? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-22/mareeba-fnq-85-per-cent-no-vote-voice-referendum/102992540 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |access-date=30 October 2023 |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030004111/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-22/mareeba-fnq-85-per-cent-no-vote-voice-referendum/102992540 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Demographics==
In the [[Census in Australia#2006|2006 census]], the town of Mareeba had a population of 6,806 people.<ref name="Census2006Y">{{Census 2006 AUS|id=UCL336800|name=Mareeba (Urban Centre/Locality)|accessdate=10 June 2011|quick=on}}</ref>

In the [[census in Australia#2011|2011 census]], the locality of Mareeba had a population of 10,181 people.<ref name="ABS2011">{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC31013|name=Mareeba (SSC)|accessdate=25 February 2016|quick=on}}</ref>

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of Mareeba had a population of 11,079 people. Mareeba included the largest [[Italian Australian]] community of any suburb in Queensland, with 1,608  people making up 10.8% of the population.<ref>{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC31779|name=Mareeba (State Suburb)|accessdate=18 July 2017|quick=on}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2016Census_G_QLD_SSC - Census DataPacks - General Community Profile |url=http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/CensusOutput/copsubdatapacks.nsf/All%20docs%20by%20catNo/2016_GCP_SSC_for_Qld/$File/2016_GCP_SSC_for_Qld_short-header.zip?OpenElement&key=c14ae986-f89d-468b-f134-cde073d72b9a |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729142317/http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/CensusOutput/copsubdatapacks.nsf/All%20docs%20by%20catNo/2016_GCP_SSC_for_Qld/$File/2016_GCP_SSC_for_Qld_short-header.zip?OpenElement&key=c14ae986-f89d-468b-f134-cde073d72b9a |archive-date=29 July 2017 |access-date=18 July 2017 |work=Australian Bureau of Statistics – Census 2016 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of Mareeba had a population of 11,825 people.<ref name=Census2021>{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL31763|name=Mareeba (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}</ref>

==Heritage listings==
Mareeba has a number of [[heritage-listed]] sites, including:
* [[Mareeba Shire Hall]], 136 Walsh Street<ref>{{cite QHR|16315|Mareeba Shire Hall (former)|601553|access-date=23 October 2013}}</ref>
* [[Assay Office, Mareeba|Assay Office]], 167 Walsh Street<ref>{{cite QHR|16899|Assay Office & Store, Mareeba|601692|access-date=14 July 2013}}</ref>
* [[Mareeba Uniting Church]], 189 Walsh Street (cnr Rankin Street) ({{coord|-16.9974|145.4246|region:AU-QLD_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Mareeba Uniting Church}})<ref>{{cite QHR||Mareeba Uniting Church (former)|602643|access-date=16 October 2024}}</ref>

== Climate ==
Mareeba has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen:]] Aw), with a short, hot [[wet season]] from December to March and a lengthy, warm [[dry season]] from April to November. Due to its elevation, average minima are lowered: ranging from {{convert|14.0|C}} in August to {{convert|21.5|C}} in January to February. In addition, due to being in a [[rain shadow]], average annual rainfall is only {{convert|875.9|mm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=31210 |title = Mareeba Airport Climate (2000-2024) |publisher = FarmOnline Weather |access-date = July 16, 2024 |archive-date = 16 July 2024 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240716101941/https://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=31210 |url-status = live }}</ref> Despite Mareeba township's tagline reading "300 sunny days a year", and its reputation as a sunny place, Mareeba only receives 86.2 clear days annually.<ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.wettropicsplan.org.au/my-backyard/northern-tablelands/ |title = Northern Tablelands- Climate |publisher = Wet Tropics Plan |access-date = July 16, 2024}}</ref> Extreme temperatures have ranged from {{convert|40.7|C}} on 5 January 1994 to {{convert|0.4|C}} on 28 June 1963.<ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=31190 |title = Mareeba Airport Climate (1991-2002) |publisher = FarmOnline Weather |access-date = July 16, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url = https://www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=31066 |title = Mareeba QWRC Climate (1952-2008) |publisher = FarmOnline Weather |access-date = July 16, 2024}}</ref>

Temperature, rainfall and 3 pm conditions were taken from the new Mareeba Airport weather station, which opened in 2000. Meanwhile, extreme temperature data was combined from Mareeba's QWRC, old Airport and new Airport weather stations. In addition, sun data was taken from Walkamin Research Station, 7.1 km south of the town.
{{Weather box
| location = Mareeba (17º04'12"S, 145º25'48"E, 472 m AMSL) (2000–2024 normals, 1957–2024 extremes, sun 1968–2012)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 40.7
| Feb record high C = 37.8
| Mar record high C = 36.0
| Apr record high C = 34.0
| May record high C = 34.1
| Jun record high C = 33.0
| Jul record high C = 34.9
| Aug record high C = 34.0
| Sep record high C = 39.2
| Oct record high C = 40.5
| Nov record high C = 40.6
| Dec record high C = 39.8
| Jan high C = 31.2
| Feb high C = 30.7
| Mar high C = 29.9
| Apr high C = 28.6
| May high C = 26.9
| Jun high C = 25.5
| Jul high C = 25.1
| Aug high C = 26.4
| Sep high C = 28.7
| Oct high C = 30.8
| Nov high C = 31.8
| Dec high C = 32.2
| Jan low C = 21.5
| Feb low C = 21.5
| Mar low C = 20.8
| Apr low C = 19.2
| May low C = 17.0
| Jun low C = 15.4
| Jul low C = 14.1
| Aug low C = 14.0
| Sep low C = 15.5
| Oct low C = 17.5
| Nov low C = 19.3
| Dec low C = 20.8
| Jan record low C = 11.1
| Feb record low C = 14.6
| Mar record low C = 13.9
| Apr record low C = 10.4
| May record low C = 1.7
| Jun record low C = 0.4
| Jul record low C = 0.7
| Aug record low C = 1.7
| Sep record low C = 5.4
| Oct record low C = 7.0
| Nov record low C = 7.0
| Dec record low C = 11.0
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 236.2
| Feb precipitation mm = 218.7
| Mar precipitation mm = 155.8
| Apr precipitation mm = 48.3
| May precipitation mm = 14.1
| Jun precipitation mm = 9.8
| Jul precipitation mm = 9.7
| Aug precipitation mm = 6.8
| Sep precipitation mm = 5.9
| Oct precipitation mm = 15.3
| Nov precipitation mm = 38.0
| Dec precipitation mm = 120.0
| year precipitation mm = 875.9
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 12.5
| Feb precipitation days = 13.5
| Mar precipitation days = 10.3
| Apr precipitation days = 4.7
| May precipitation days = 2.3
| Jun precipitation days = 1.6
| Jul precipitation days = 1.7
| Aug precipitation days = 1.1
| Sep precipitation days = 1.0
| Oct precipitation days = 2.3
| Nov precipitation days = 3.5
| Dec precipitation days = 8.2
| Jan afthumidity = 62
| Feb afthumidity = 67
| Mar afthumidity = 60
| Apr afthumidity = 58
| May afthumidity = 55
| Jun afthumidity = 57
| Jul afthumidity = 51
| Aug afthumidity = 47
| Sep afthumidity = 44
| Oct afthumidity = 43
| Nov afthumidity = 47
| Dec afthumidity = 54
| Jan dew point C = 20.2
| Feb dew point C = 21.1
| Mar dew point C = 19.1
| Apr dew point C = 17.3
| May dew point C = 14.9
| Jun dew point C = 14.2
| Jul dew point C = 12.0
| Aug dew point C = 12.1
| Sep dew point C = 12.9
| Oct dew point C = 14.3
| Nov dew point C = 16.3
| Dec dew point C = 18.6
| Jan sun = 210.8
| Feb sun = 172.3
| Mar sun = 204.6
| Apr sun = 216.0
| May sun = 223.2
| Jun sun = 222.0
| Jul sun = 238.7
| Aug sun = 263.5
| Sep sun = 276.0
| Oct sun = 297.6
| Nov sun = 267.0
| Dec sun = 244.9
| Jan percentsun = 52
| Feb percentsun = 48
| Mar percentsun = 54
| Apr percentsun = 62
| May percentsun = 64
| Jun percentsun = 67
| Jul percentsun = 69
| Aug percentsun = 73
| Sep percentsun = 77
| Oct percentsun = 77
| Nov percentsun = 69
| Dec percentsun = 60
| source 1 = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] (2000–2024 normals, extremes 1957–2024)<ref>{{cite web 
|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_031210_All.shtml 
|title = Mareeba Airport Climate Statistics (2000–2024) 
|publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] 
|access-date = July 16, 2024 
|archive-date = 22 May 2022 
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220522101447/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_031210_All.shtml 
|url-status = live 
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_031190_All.shtml 
|title = Mareeba Airport Climate Statistics (1991–2002) 
|publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]
|access-date = July 16, 2024}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_031066_All.shtml 
|title = Mareeba QWRC Climate Statistics (1952–2008) 
|publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]
|access-date = July 16, 2024}}
</ref>
| source 2 = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] (1968–2012 sun, sourced from Walkamin Research Station, 7.1 km away)<ref>{{cite web 
|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_031108.shtml 
|title = Walkamin Research Station Climate Statistics (1968–2024) 
|publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] 
|access-date = July 16, 2024 
|archive-date = 16 July 2024 
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240716101941/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_031108.shtml 
|url-status = live 
}}</ref>
| source = 
| collapsed = Y
}}

==Economy==
Numerous [[horticulture|crops]] are grown throughout [[Mareeba Shire]], including [[avocado]]s, [[mango]]es, [[lychee]]s, [[longan]]s, [[sugar cane]], [[cashew]]s, [[macadamia]]s, [[banana]]s, [[pineapple]]s, [[tea tree oil]], [[Coffea|coffee]], [[cotton]] and a variety of [[vegetables]] and [[tropical fruits]]. [[Poultry]] and [[cattle]] are also common. [[Tobacco]] was once the main grown crop of the local economy, but is no longer grown within the Mareeba shire.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

[[Tourism]] also contributes to the local economy.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

==Education==
[[File:Mareeba State School, 2021.jpg|thumb|Mareeba State School, 2021]]
Mareeba State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at Constance Street ({{coord|-16.9919|145.4249|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Mareeba State School}}).<ref name="SchoolList2018">{{cite web |date=9 July 2018 |title=State and non-state school details |url=https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997 |archive-date=21 November 2018 |access-date=21 November 2018 |publisher=[[Queensland Government]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-29 |title=Mareeba State School |url=https://mareebass.eq.edu.au/ |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=Mareeba State School |language=en |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031184345/https://mareebass.eq.edu.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 866 students with 69 teachers (64 full-time equivalent) and 48 non-teaching staff (33 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2018">{{cite web |title=ACARA School Profile 2018 |url=https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx |access-date=28 January 2020 |publisher=[[Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority]] |archive-date=27 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827085246/https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx |url-status=live }}</ref> In includes a [[special education]] program.<ref name="SchoolList2018" />

St Thomas' School is a Catholic primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 63 Constance Street ({{coord|-16.9952|145.4254|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=St Thomas' School}}).<ref name="SchoolList2018" /><ref>{{cite web |title=St Thomas' School |url=https://www.stthomasmareeba.qld.edu.au/ |access-date=21 November 2018 |archive-date=11 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111160226/http://www.stthomasmareeba.qld.edu.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 426 students with 33 teachers (26 full-time equivalent) and 27 non-teaching staff (15 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2018" />

[[Mareeba State High School]] is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls in Jasper Street ({{coord|-16.9958|145.4163|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=Mareeba State High School}}).<ref name="SchoolList2018" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mareeba State High School |url=https://mareebashs.eq.edu.au/ |access-date=7 November 2023 |archive-date=7 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107021855/https://mareebashs.eq.edu.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 732 students with 70 teachers (66 full-time equivalent) and 45 non-teaching staff (33 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2018" /> It includes a special education program.<ref name="SchoolList2018" />

St Stephen's Catholic College is a Catholic secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at 3 McIver Road ({{coord|-17.0176|145.4198|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=St Stephen's Catholic College}}).<ref name="SchoolList2018" /><ref>{{cite web |title=St Stephen's Catholic College |url=https://www.sscc.qld.edu.au/ |access-date=21 November 2018 |archive-date=23 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223143635/http://sscc.qld.edu.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 555 students with 57 teachers (48 full-time equivalent) and 32 non-teaching staff (22 full-time equivalent).<ref name="ACARA2018" />

==Health==
Mareeba Hospital is in the Tablelands Health District. It provides 52 beds, with surgical, maternity, pediatric, outpatient, emergency and x-ray facilities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.health.qld.gov.au/cairns_hinterland/html/mareeba|title=Mareeba Hospital Homepage|date=1 April 2016|website=Queensland Health|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203181009/https://www.health.qld.gov.au/cairns_hinterland/html/mareeba|archive-date=3 February 2018|url-status=live|access-date=3 February 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[Mareeba Gladiators]] are the local [[rugby league]] team. The Gladiators participate in the [[Cairns District Rugby League]] competition. They last won the Premiership in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.health.qld.gov.au/cairns_hinterland/html/about_us|title=Sports Facilities/Clubs|date=1 August 2013|website=Queensland Health|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203181222/https://www.health.qld.gov.au/cairns_hinterland/html/about_us|archive-date=3 February 2018|url-status=live|access-date=3 February 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Amenities ==
[[Mareeba Shire Council]] operates a public library at 221 Byrnes Street.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/mareeba/mareeba_library|title=Mareeba Library|date=3 February 2016|website=Public Libraries Connect|publisher=[[State Library of Queensland]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203005726/http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/mareeba/mareeba_library|archive-date=3 February 2018|url-status=live|access-date=2 February 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The library facility opened in 1958, with a major refurbishment in 1985 and minor refurbishment in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/331262/SLQ_StatsBulletin1415_20160322.pdf|title=Queensland Public Library Statistical Bulletin 2016-17|date=November 2017|website=Public Libraries Connect|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302190219/http://plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/331262/SLQ_StatsBulletin1415_20160322.pdf|archive-date=2 March 2017|url-status=live|access-date=3 February 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The Mareeba branch of the [[Queensland Country Women's Association]] meets at the CWA Hall on the corner of Dempster Street and Wilkes Street.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/|title=Branch Locations|publisher=[[Queensland Country Women's Association]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226010724/http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/|access-date=26 December 2018|archive-date=26 December 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Cairns Aerial Outpost branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at 15 Wilson Street.<ref name=":2" />

St Thomas of Villanova's Catholic Church is at 59 Constance Street. St Stephen's College at Lot 3 McIver Road also has a Catholic church. Both are within the Mareeba Parish of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Mareeba Parish|url=http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/mareeba.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118141647/http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/mareeba.html|archive-date=18 November 2020|access-date=18 November 2020|website=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns]]}}</ref>

The [[Mareeba Mosque]] is at 108 Walsh Street.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mareeba Islamic Society|url=https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/dd1c45830df5cc538cc04c0a3e708765|access-date=18 November 2020|website=Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission|archive-date=19 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119002139/https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/dd1c45830df5cc538cc04c0a3e708765|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Media ==
Mareeba is serviced by the following radio stations:{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}
* [[4AM (AM)|4AM]] 558
* [[ABC Far North]] 720
* [[Radio National|ABC Radio National]] 105.1
* [[ABC NewsRadio|ABC News Radio]] 101.1
* [[ABC Classic]] 105.9
* [[Triple J]] 107.5
* [[Hot FM (Australian radio network)|Hit FM]] 103.5
* [[KIK FM]] 88.7
* [[Black Star Radio FM]] 96.7
* [[Rhema FM#Former stations|Rhema FM]] 92.3
* [[Sea FM (Australian radio network)#Former Sea FM-branded stations|Triple M]] 99.5

== Attractions ==
Tourist attractions in the Mareeba Shire include the Golden Drop Mango Winery, Jaques Coffee Plantation, Coffee Works, Mareeba Heritage Museum, Mareeba Rock Wallabies and Granite Gorge Nature Park, Emerald Creek Falls, and Davies Creek Falls.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

==Events==
The Mareeba Rodeo and Festival is held annually, with the first Affiliated Mareeba Rodeo held in July 1949 (which is now the home ground of the ''Gladiators'' [[Rugby league]] team).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2018|title=History|url=http://www.mareebarodeo.com.au/index.php/history|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203181359/http://www.mareebarodeo.com.au/index.php/history|archive-date=3 February 2018|access-date=3 February 2018|website=Mareeba Rodeo and Festival|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The rodeo is hosted at the Kerribee Park Rodeo Grounds, located slightly out of town on route to Dimbulah. In 2014, the attendance was 13,000, almost double the town's normal population.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}} A parade through the town is held, and the Rodeo Queen is crowned (the first Princess was crowned in 1959). A [[ute muster]] is often staged over the same weekend as the rodeo. In 1999 Mareeba District Rodeo Association Inc. celebrated their 50 years Golden Jubilee of the foundation of the Association and 20 years of the opening of "Kerribee Park".<ref name=":1" />

The FNQ Country Music Festival and Talent Search is held annually at Kerribee Park Rodeo Grounds. The event is hosted by the [[Walkamin, Queensland|Walkamin]] Country Music Club.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Festival|url=https://www.walkamincountrymusicclub.com.au/festival|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203235740/https://www.walkamincountrymusicclub.com.au/festival|archive-date=3 February 2018|access-date=3 February 2018|website=Walkamin Country Music Club|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Each year on the third Sunday of January, St Thomas's Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of [[Santo Niño de Cebú|Santo Nino]] which celebrates [[Jesus]] as a child. The event is of special significance to the [[Filipino Australians]]. After the [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]], there is a celebratory meal of [[Filipino cuisine]].<ref name=":3" />

Each year, on the second Sunday of September, St Thomas's Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of the Chain. The celebration begins with a procession through various streets of Mareeba and culminates in a fireworks display.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Special Celebrations and Feast Days|url=http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/mareeba.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203181526/http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/mareeba.html|archive-date=3 February 2018|access-date=3 February 2018|website=Catholic Diocese of Cairns|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Photo gallery==
<gallery perrow="6">
File:Moved Termite Mounts Mareeba.JPG|Moved termite mounds, Mareeba
File:Coffee Harvester Mareeba.JPG|Coffee bean harvester, Mareeba
</gallery>

==Notable residents==
*[[Aron Baynes]] (born 1986), Australian basketball player [[2014 NBA Finals|2014 NBA champion]]
*[[Harriett Brims]] (1864–1939), pioneer female commercial photographer
*[[Steven Ciobo]] (born 1974), Australian politician
*[[Tom Gilmore, Jr.]] (1946-2024), Australian politician
*[[Katie Page]] (born 1956), CEO of [[Harvey Norman]]<ref>{{cite web |url=  http://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/katie-pages-passions-of-the-field/story-fn6ck8la-1226238846398|title=Passions on the Field|first=Mike|last=Bruce|date=8 January 2012|access-date=20 September 2015|work=[[The Sunday Mail (Brisbane)|The Sunday Mail]]}}</ref>
*[[Ernest Riordan]] (1901–1954), Australian politician
*[[Chris Sheppard (rugby league)|Chris Sheppard]] (born 1981), Australian [[rugby league]] player
*[[Wayne Srhoj]] (born 1982), Australian footballer
*[[Deon St. Mor]], Australian business owner and designer
*[[Owsley Stanley]], (1935–2011), American counter-culture figure of the 1960s ([[LSD]]; [[The Grateful Dead]])

==See also==
* [[Mareeba rock-wallaby]] (''Petrogale mareeba'') – named after Mareeba

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://queenslandplaces.com.au/mareeba University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Mareeba]
* [http://www.mareebass.eq.edu.au/ Mareeba State Primary School Website]
* [http://www.mareebaheritagecentre.com.au/ Mareeba Heritage Centre Website] 
* [http://www.mbahistsoc.org.au Mareeba Historical Society]
* [https://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/61SLQ_INST/dls06p/alma996910554702061 Annual reports Mareeba Hospitals Board 1951 to 1990], [[State Library of Queensland]]

{{Shire of Mareeba}}
{{Atherton Tableland nav box}}
{{Far North Queensland}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Mareeba| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Queensland]]
[[Category:Populated places in Far North Queensland]]
[[Category:Shire of Mareeba]]
[[Category:Queensland in World War II]]
[[Category:Localities in Queensland]]