Paronella Park

Located just inland from Innisfail is Paronella Park. Created by a young Spaniard, Jose Paronella who decided after making his fortune in North Queensland, that he would go and bring back the love of his life, and build her a castle.

The thing is - he built it all by hand, and brought in all the "new technology" of it's day.

Unfortunately, he used the wrong sand in his concrete - and now the whole place is decaying because of the mica in the sand causing it to explode. 

What an amazing place! This was the first place in Australia to have its own hydro electricity, a ballroom that could hold 400 people, a 2 metre glass mirror ball, tennis courts, a waterfall to drive the hydro system, a "tunnel of love", and even ice cream for all the visitors.

Three floods, two cyclones and many other natural disasters, and Paronella Park is now in ruins, but a new enthusiast bought the park 15 years ago, and they are starting to rebuild. Because it is heritage listed, there have been lots of red tape and hoops to jump through, but now they have been approved to spend over $1m and rebuild the ballroom to its former glory.

Everything is made by hand - even the 8,000 vertical supports for the railings. 47 steps in the staircase had to be installed first before they could start on any of the buildings. His hand prints are all throughout the structures because he plastered all the walls. 

Google it and read the story!! Simply Amazing!!