Mutchilba, Queensland


Mutchilba is a rural town and locality in the Shire of Mareeba, in Far North Queensland, Australia. In the, Mutchilba had a population of 495 people.

Geography

Mutchilba is on the Atherton Tableland, south-west of Cairns via the Captain Cook Highway, Kennedy Highway and State Route 27. From further west it can be accessed via the Burke Developmental Road.
It is located on the Mareeba-Dimbulah Road west of Mareeba. It is known for its large production of mangoes.

History

Mutchilba railway station was named on 2 March 1923 by the Queensland Railways Department using an Aboriginal word meaning big dead tree.
A design plan for the town of Mutchilba was prepared in August 1954 and the first town allotments were surveyed in March 1955.
Mutchilba Post Office opened on 1 March 1956.
The town was downgraded by the Mareeba Shire Council in 1999 and has been officially a part of Dimbulah, Queensland since then. On 12 October 2012 it was announced that the town is again officially recognised in the Queensland place names database.
Between 2008 and 2013, Mutchilba was within the Tablelands Region.

Education

Mutchilba State School is a government primary school for boys and girls at 33 Marsterson Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 24 students with 2 teachers and 4 non-teaching staff.

Mango Mardi Gras

Mutchilba is known for the "Mango Mardi Gras", which is a celebration of the many mango farms in the region.