Goats, you will find goats everywhere in Museum. In the school room, on top of the Blacksmiths Shop and in front of the Saddle Shop.
Why, because in the 1920's Mareeba was overrun by goats. Many regional Queensland towns, had goats, because they provided cheap meat and milk.
There were goats everywhere!
They were never locked up, and they were left to run wild.
The goats would wander home at night to get milked, and a sweet treat to keep them coming back. Then they would continue making a nuisance of themselves, all over town.
The sawmill employees, would have to go to work early, because they had to chase them out of the sawmill, before work started. Even at the court house, in the middle of a court case, they would need to be removed. They also ate all the kids lunches at school!
As much as the goats were a nuisance, the kids loved them. They helped with their chores. On washing day, the kids would use the goat carts to collect wood, and water for mum, and they also used them for milk runs.
In 1947, the Council decided to remove the goats. They were round-up, and secured. However, the first few nights the goats were let out by townies. To keep the goats secure, a watchman was employed. Eventually, the goats were taken to Tinaroo, and never seen from again.
This is such a fun story that we recently published a children's book, titled, 'Are you kidding Me'. This is a story about four mischievous goats, and one very confused cow, who cause mayhem throughout the town of Mareeba.
This beautifully illustrated book can be purchased from our gift shop.
