Tablelands Regional Council

Highly Engaged Employees

Tablelands Regional Council operates the Malanda Falls Visitor Centre, a community-focused educational facility located in the Atherton Tablelands region of Queensland, Australia. Originally established in 1996 by local volunteers and community members, the Centre was designed to help visitors and school children understand and appreciate the uniqu... e rainforest environment of the area. Following a devastating fire in 2010 that destroyed the original facility and its irreplaceable displays and artifacts, Tablelands Regional Council partnered with volunteers, local organizations, and community stakeholders to rebuild the Centre. The reconstruction effort brought together diverse partners including Ngadjon elders, members of the Choorechillum pbc, the Malanda Chamber of Commerce, the Eacham Historical Society, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, and the Wet Tropics Management Authority. Rather than simply recreating the lost facility, the Council commissioned award-winning architect Charles Wright to design a contemporary visitor centre inspired by the volcanic landscapes of the Atherton Tablelands and the Seven Sisters volcanic cones. The rebuilt Centre, which opened in September 2013, features modern interpretation centered on special stories about the Atherton Tablelands, recorded and presented through a Commonwealth Government Your Community Heritage grant, with Mupee the Lumholtz's Tree-kangaroo serving as a unique linking theme throughout the exhibits. The Centre continues to operate as a community-driven institution where volunteers remain central to its mission and operations, contributing both their time and extensive local knowledge. Through the rebuilding process, Tablelands Regional Council strengthened relationships and connections across the broader Tablelands community, transforming a disaster into an opportunity to deepen community engagement and celebrate the region's distinctive natural and cultural attributes.Read More