Babinda is a small town and suburb in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It is located 60 km south of Cairns. At the 2011 Australian Census the town recorded a population of 1,068.
The town is noted for its proximity to two of Queensland's highest mountains Mount Bartle Frere and Mount Bellenden Ker.
Babinda and Tully annually compete for the Golden Gumboot, an award for Australia's wettest town. Babinda is usually the winner, recording an annual rainfall of over 4,200 millimetres each year.
History
Babinda takes its name from the local Indigenous Australian language for mountain. Other sources, however, claim it is a Yidinji word for water, possibly referring to the high rainfall of the area.
Babinda State School opened on 4 November 1914.
In March 2006, Babinda was struck by Cyclone Larry, damaging up to 80% of buildings.
Heritage listings
Babinda has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
- 65-85 Munro Street: Babinda Hotel
- 109 Munro Street: Babinda Air Raid Shelter
Demographics
The 2006 Census by the Australian Bureau of Statistics counted 1,167 persons in Babinda on census night. Of these, 49.7% were male and 50.3% were female.
- Category:
- Local business