We arrived at Paronella Park, Mena Creek on Sunday 5th July.
Once again it was pouring rain and we were met outside by staff holding umbrellas for us as we pulled up. We arranged to stay the night on an un-powered site so we could do the day tour and also the night tour. In order to appreciate what you are seeing it is important to know the background and history of the property. We took many photos, but it is one of those experiences where you really need to be there. the one thing we needed to keep in mind is that Jose did the bulk of the work with his own hands, with some help here and there.

The Love story and History
José Paronella arrived in Innisfail, Queensland, Australia in 1913, having sailed from Catalonia in northern Spain to plan a splendid life for himself and his fiancé Matilda. José worked hard for 11 years, creating his wealth by buying, improving and selling cane farms.
While traveling through the beautiful countryside he discovered a virgin forest alongside spectacular Mena Creek Falls – perfect for his dream.
Upon returning to Spain, José discovered that Matilda had married another! Determined to sail back with a bride José proposed to Margarita, Matilda's younger sister. One year later the happy newlyweds were ship bound for Australia and by 1929 had purchased the land
of José’ dreams. He first built the grand 47-step staircase to shift building materials between the lower and upper level. Here the fun-loving couple had their cottage hand built of
stone, and moved in on Christmas Eve.
Inspired by chldhood memories of Catalonian castles José and his workers set to work designing an entertainment area. Their fingerprints in the cement foundations remain as testament to their extraordinary effort that guaranteed joyous times. A movie theatre transformed on weekends into a huge ballroom with live bands who entertained while a massive ball of mirrors spun from the ceiling to reflect a dazzle of pink and blue lights.
Surrounding their home and castle, more than 7000 trees were planted including an avenue of Kauris that tower now like cathedral spires in a sacred forest.
North Queensland’s first hydro electric plant was built in 1933 to power the 5 ha (13 acre) park, and the castle grounds were ready to welcome the public in 1935.
The Paronellas invited everyone to movies on Saturday nights, built tennis courts from crushed termite mounds, and a pavilion with turret-topped balconies, refreshment rooms and changing cubicles for swimmers. Eventually a museum featured a collection of coins, pistols, dolls, timbers and interesting keepsakes.
Unexpectedly the tale of Paronella Park took swift and dangerous turns starting in 1964 when a mass of logs from a clearing upstream swept away a railway bridge and descended on the park, destroying the refreshment rooms. Undaunted, the Paronellas replanted gardens,
repaired what they could, and re-opened for business 6 months later.
José died in 1948, leaving Margarita, daughter Teresa and Val Ribes. In 1967 Margarita died leaving Joe and Val as custodians of José’s dream. After Joe’s death in 1972, Val and their two sons Joe and Kerry, continued until the park was sold in 1977. In 1979 a fire swept through the castle, leaving only the walls and the turret as a reminder of what had been.
In 1986, Cyclone Winifred tested the parks endurance once again.
In 1993, Mark and Judy Evans, the parks current owners, rediscovered the almost lost park and envisaged reviving José’s dream with his appreciation for beauty and warm hospitality.
With the help of the Paronella family José’s story was written, paths were uncovered, buildings repaired, trees identified, and a museum created in the original home built by José for his
family. Cyclone Larry in 2006 added another chapter of endurance to the story, and the dream continued once again.
2009 saw the refurbishment of the original hydro turbine which once again provides power for the entire park.
Today, visitors are taken on a range of guided tours. The story is told and the highlights of the Park shown through the day and into the night.

Paronella Park is eco-certified and heritage listed. Efforts today focus on maintaining the property while staying true to its historic and eco values. A number of ongoing restoration and
preservation projects will see the Paronella Park story live on for many years to come.