Wairuna Homestead and Cemetery

A piece of Queensland’s history awaits you at this remotely located homestead, 80km south of Mt Garnet, in the Atherton Tablelands. Situated along Wairuna Road, this remarkable homestead is not yet accessible to the public, although you can visit the cemetery half a kilometre to the west of the homestead. The homestead site includes a 1940s timber residence, early cottage, head stockman's house, barracks, sheds and butchering hut are easily observed from the Wairuna Road. Operated by the prominent Atkinson family, the property is significant for its contribution to northern Queensland’s cattle breeding industry. James Atkinson moved to Wairuna station with his family and cattle herd in 1881 and developed the site into a self-contained village. Following James’ death in 1899, a cemetery was created. Wairuna persisted throughout the cattle industry’s hardships from the 1890s until the 1950s. James’ grandson, Ken Atkinson, bred tropically-adapted Brahman cross-breed cattle at Wairuna from 1936, which revolutionised northern Queensland’s cattle breeding industry. Surrounded by the Burdekin River, well-watered creeks, lagoons and small hills that attract a variety of Queensland wildlife, Wairuna truly captures the spirit of remoteness and seclusion characteristic of the northern Queensland tablelands. This homestead is not publically accessible.