PARONELLA PARK, Innisfail, Queensland

Michael, Gemma and Jesse spent an action filled two days at Paronella Park. This incredible, heritage listed castle, built on thirteen acres beside the Mena Creek Falls, has the most interesting story littered with drama, romance, passion, tragedy, endurance and old fashioned hard work.

Paronella Park was the vision of Jose Paronella, a Spaniard who migrated to Innisfail in 1913 chasing a dream of a better life for himself and his fiancée, Matilda. Unfortunately, they didn’t have enough money for both of them to make the journey so Matilda was left behind with a promise from Jose that he’d come for her when he had more to offer!

Jose toiled hard for 11 years, initially working in the cane fields before buying his own land to grow and sell the increasingly popular cane sugar. His wealth grew quickly and although he never made contact with Matilda while he built his fortune (weird I know), he dutifully returned to Spain in 1924 to collect her and bring her to Queensland for the privileged life he’d promised her so many years earlier. But alas, he was a year too late! Tired of waiting and after loosing hope that he would come for her, she found someone else to wed. Never one to admit defeat, Jose promptly snapped up Matilda’s younger sister, Margarita, and both sailed back to Australia in 1925.

They started building the castle in 1929 and opened it to the public just 6 years later. They constructed much of it by hand themselves and their fingerprints are still visible in the cement today. Curiously, the castle was never intended for them to live in. Behind the castle, they built a small stone cottage for themselves where they started a family and lived comfortably. The castle was built as a place to bring their community together, to entertain, laugh and have fun. There was a huge ballroom where bands played to loving crowds, and where people danced and partied. A huge mirror ball hung from the ceiling and rotated slowly, reflecting coloured lights around the room and dancing playfully off the ceiling and walls. The ballroom doubled as a movie theatre where features were shown every Saturday night to the crowds who’d flock to the popular attraction. There were tennis courts, a swimming pool, cubicles for swimmers, an ice cream parlour, a bakery and a pavilion. The castle’s ornate staircases, balconies and expansive gardens added to the decadent experience of those who visited. It even had a hydro electricity plant that powered the estate!

During the four decades of Paronella ownership, the family battled regular floods, which meant plenty of maintenance and rebuilding was required and kept everyone busy! After Jose and Margarita’s death, their children continued the legacy until 1977 when they sold the estate. Sadly, the castle continued to experience the wrath of nature. A major fire, three cyclones and another flood contributed to Paronella Park’s undignified demise. Today its shell stands in defiance of all that it has battled, scared by the brutality of Mother Nature and neglect. The Park has new owners who hope to restore its formal glory and bring Jose’s vision back to life.

Michael and the kids stayed overnight in the Park’s campgrounds, allowing them to tour the castle at night. They especially enjoyed this experience, impressed with the beauty of the ruins and the enduring story of love, perseverance and one man’s commitment to his dreams.