Ruth Kerr in her book John Moffat of Irvinebank describes the tin mining town of Herberton in the Atherton Tableland south-west of Cairns as a settlement of tents, bark huts, newly sawn weatherboards and gleaming galvanized iron. The population in 1880 numbered 300 people including 27 women. The settlement consisted of five hotels, a blacksmith, three stores, assaying office, sawmill and school of arts.⁶  Herberton was located in a rich mineral area twice the size of Belgium to the west of Cairns. The deposits of gold, copper, silver lead and zinc, and tin were mined from 1876 to the early 1930s.

⁶  Kerr, Ruth S., John Moffat of Irvinebank, p.48.

Reference:

Kerr, Ruth S., John Moffat of Irvinebank, J.D. and R.S. Kerr, 2000.