Barron Gorge, Queensland
# Barron Gorge, Queensland

Barron Gorge is a rural locality in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Barron Gorge had a population of 0 people.

Springs is a neighbourhood in the narrow centre part of the locality (16°52′00″S 145°40′00″E﻿ / ﻿16.8666°S 145.6666°E﻿ / -16.8666; 145.6666﻿ (Springs)).

## Geography

Almost the entire area of the locality is undeveloped land within the Barron Gorge National Park which also extends into a number of neighbouring localities. The land rises from approximately 10 metres above sea level to the east of the locality up to a number of named peaks, including:

* Red Peak, 590 metres (1,940 ft) above sea level in the north of the locality (16°51′02″S 145°40′20″E﻿ / ﻿16.8505°S 145.6722°E﻿ / -16.8505; 145.6722﻿ (Red Peak)).
* North Peak, 730 metres (2,400 ft) in the middle of the locality (16°53′39″S 145°40′25″E﻿ / ﻿16.8941°S 145.6736°E﻿ / -16.8941; 145.6736﻿ (North Peak))
* Mount Williams, also known as Tokim Peak, 1,010 metres (3,310 ft) in the south of the locality (16°54′48″S 145°39′48″E﻿ / ﻿16.9133°S 145.6633°E﻿ / -16.9133; 145.6633﻿ (Mount Williams))
* Red Bluff, a cliff (16°52′00″S 145°40′00″E﻿ / ﻿16.8666°S 145.6666°E﻿ / -16.8666; 145.6666﻿ (Red Bluff))

The name of the locality derives from the gorge created by the Barron River through the Macalister Range and the Lamb Range.

The Cairns-to-Kuranda railway line provides the north-western boundary of the locality and also part of the south-eastern locality. The railway line is used by the Kuranda Scenic Railway tourist service which includes stops at scenic lookouts. There were two railway stations on this line within the locality:

* Springs railway station, now abandoned (16°52′10″S 145°39′54″E﻿ / ﻿16.8695°S 145.6650°E﻿ / -16.8695; 145.6650﻿ (Springs railway station)).
* Stoney Creek railway station (16°52′48″S 145°39′12″E﻿ / ﻿16.8801°S 145.6533°E﻿ / -16.8801; 145.6533﻿ (Stoney Creek railway station)), situated where the railway line crosses Stoney Creek (16°51′54″S 145°40′04″E﻿ / ﻿16.8651°S 145.6677°E﻿ / -16.8651; 145.6677﻿ (Stony Creek (mouth))), a tributary of the Barron River

There is only one road through the locality, the Barron Gorge Road, which starts in Carvonica and Kamerunga and provides access to the Barron Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station.

## History

In the 2016 census Barron Gorge had a population of 0 people.

## Attractions

The Skyrail Rainforest Cableway passes through the locality with Red Peak Station (16°50′57″S 145°40′10″E﻿ / ﻿16.8493°S 145.6695°E﻿ / -16.8493; 145.6695﻿ (Red Peak Station)), a stopping point within the locality which features guided boardwalk tours through ancient tropical rainforests, featuring a 400-year-old Kauri pine tree. There is no entry to the cableway from the locality; its terminals are in Smithfield and Kuranda.

