Paronella Park, Queensland: How a Spanish Immigrant Built His Own Fairy-Tale Castle – From Rags to Riches
In the early years of the 20th century, a baker in Spain named Jose Paronella read in the local paper that there was a fortune to be made in Australia. And so, Jose left for the land down under, promising his fiancée that he’d be back with riches. After more than a decade of toiling under the hot Australian sun, Jose finally amassed his fortune and bought a piece of land he’d been eyeing for a while. This picturesque stretch of land was filled with scenic ponds, waterfalls, and serene woodlands. Jose decided that a castle was just what it needed and so that’s what he did – he built a castle!
Paronella Park is now a celebrated local attraction that you should visit whenever you’re in Northern Queensland. It’s in fact a quick visit if you’re staying at one of the many centrally located Middlemount service apartments – for example, the ones offered by Oaks Middlemount Suites.