Beginnings

The Society began on 28th July 1993, with our first meeting being attended by 13 people with apologies from 4 others. Our aim was to seek out, preserve and conserve the history of all areas encompassed by the original Mareeba Shire as well as neighbouring towns and shires.

For many years the group met at the same venue, the Mareeba Information and Support Centre at 199 Walsh Street, Mareeba. The Mareeba Shire Council then allowed the group the use of the old Country Women's Association Rooms in Byrnes Street.

We opened mainly at the weekends supplying not only historical data about the area but also tourist information as well. We did return to 199 Walsh Street for a few more months for meetings then back to Byrnes Street. From Byrnes Street we were given the use of a small pensioner cottage, only to be asked to move again to another cottage at 1 Lyons Street Mareeba.

Our Building

On September 4th 2004 we moved to our current site at Centenary Park on the main road, south from Mareeba.
The building we now call home took eleven years of hard fund raising to achieve and those efforts began back in 1993 and we now completely own it.
The building is now known as "The Helen Kindt Building" in honour of our secretary who has been a constant driving force behind the society for many years.

In 2010 we added a mezzanine floor as we were beginning to run out of space, and as before it was our hard-earned money that was used.

Activities and Events

We are a not-for-profit, self-funded autonomous organisation. and our members work hard to raise monies so we can continue to conserve and preserve the paper history of this area.
We sell second-hand books, mainly on Mareeba Market Days, run raffles and charge a small fee for research. We have also just started selling "Collectables" - if you're interested please have a look at what's currently on offer.
We hold regular events and field-trips which are hosted by the society plus we also set up displays to provide information and allow members and non-members to experience what life in Mareeba Shire's past was like for its locals - check our events page to read about them.
We may be a small in numbers society but we more than make up for that in our enthusiasm and expertise. All our members are willing to "have a go!"

Our Committee

President:	Ann Hyde
Vice President:	Joan Collins
Sec. / Treasurer:	Helen Kindt
Librarian:	David Foster
Committee:	Dot Peters & John Hammond

Our Collection

We are an excellent resource for researchers and family historians as our Research Centre holdings include images, objects and archives which describe the social, economic, industrial and agricultural history of the area.

Our holdings also include lists of burials , monument inscriptions and cemetery lists for most of the 38 cemeteries; a large image collection; a map and plans collection; plus an extensive library and archive which includes published works on Mareeba's history.

We are alway on the lookout for new editions to add to our collection.
So if you have any:
   ~ old photos, maps, calendars, receipts, newspapers, magazines, brochures, directories, catalogues and phone books ~
   ~ any photographs, negatives and glass slides ~
   ~ family histories and trees, the history of your house, old deeds
                    or any other items PLEASE don't throw them away till you've talked to us. Once the history of a place is gone, destroyed or neglected it is lost forever.

Our Jack & Newell website, concerning local store owners from 1893 to the mid 1970's, is well worth a visit

Membership.

Membership of our society is spread far across the globe.
We not only have members from the Mareeba Shire but also from:
Cairns, Canberra, New South Wales, South Australia, England, Austria, and Canada.

Annual Fees are:
$20 for a Single membership, or
$25 for a Family membership where all members live at the same address
If you would like to join the society please complete the Membership Form, arrange method of payment and return to the society.

Meeting Times and Location.

- January 26th 2012
- February 23rd 2012
- March 22nd 2012
- April 26th 2012
- May 24th 2012 2012
- June 28th 2012
- July 26th 2012
- August 23rd AGM 2012
- September 27th 2012
- October 25th 2012
- November 22nd 2012
Dates for 2013 will be updated shortly
	Click for larger map

Contact Us.