In Queensland, Australia, there is an old castle erected by a Spanish immigrant that suffered one difficulty after another for a long. Despite being abandoned for numerous years, it has suddenly become one of Queensland’s most popular tourist destinations.
When José Paronella, a native of Catalonia, Spain, decided to go out on his own, he settled in a nearby town and became a baker. He realized it was much more difficult than he had anticipated, so he took a chance when he spotted an advertisement for work in Australia. He came to Sydney at the age of 26 in 1913.
He got a job cutting sugar cane in North Queensland and saved every money he could. He returned home every night with burnt hands and weary muscles, prompting him to apply for a cook’s position to feed the cane workers.
He provided conventional steak, chicken, eggs, and bread, as well as various European-style items. With the money he saved, he founded his own sugar cane plantation and rapidly expanded into money lending, mining, and sugar cane property flipping.
Paronella was fairly affluent by the age of 34, and he became an Australian citizen. Regrettably, his wealth drew the attention of the underworld. He returned to Spain, fearful of losing his money and even his life.
He married Margarita, the sister of a lady he had met before leaving for Australia, while there. The couple traveled to Europe to research architecture, gardens, and cafés for the land José intended to acquire in Australia.
Margarita found the transfer to Australian life difficult, but she gradually learned English and grew accustomed to her new surroundings.
José looked for the right spot to build his dream castle and discovered twelve acres on Mena Creek surrounded by what are today National Parks.
He started by planting hundreds of trees before constructing a home for himself and his family. It was a modest stone home near the site of his eventual fantasy palace. With his family safely ensconced in, he began building the castle and renovating the grounds.
The majority of the work was done by José and Margarita personally, and José created an inventive hydroelectric dam. On the grounds, they built benches, a swimming pool, a tennis court, a playground, fountains, and waterfalls, while the castle itself contained a big foyer, a large communal room, a movie theater, and refreshment stands.
José and Margarita’s intention had never been to live in the castle, but rather to share it and its gardens with the public.
Paronella Park first opened its doors in 1935. The Paronella family hosted parties and dances for the villagers, donated funds for the Spanish civil war, and the park became popular with American soldiers during WWII.
Then the problems began. According to the park’s website, the first difficulty occurred in 1946 when an area of land upstream was stripped of vegetation, resulting in avalanches of boulders and logs when the rains began. The hydropower system and lower levels were almost completely damaged. The castle was reopened once repairs were finished.
Then the problems began. According to the park’s website, the first difficulty occurred in 1946 when an area of land upstream was stripped of vegetation, resulting in avalanches of boulders and logs when the rains began. The hydropower system and lower levels were almost completely damaged. The castle was reopened once repairs were finished.
José was diagnosed with fatal stomach cancer in 1947. A tropical storm slammed Queensland at the same time, inflicting extensive damage to the park.
With no insurance and José’s health deteriorating, the park was forced to close for six months for repairs. José died in August of 1948, leaving his wife and two children in charge of the park. Teresa, his daughter, had married and moved away, leaving Margarita and their son, Joe, to try to keep the park running.
Margarita died in 1967, and Joe died in 1972, leaving the park in the hands of the Paronella grandkids.
Floods in 1967, 1972, and 1974 severely harmed the park, making it too expensive for the family to maintain. José and Margarita’s dream was sold in 1977. A fire destroyed almost everything but the exterior walls of the castle two years later, forcing the park to shut. Cyclone Winifred severely harmed the grounds in 1986, and the location was abandoned to the bush.
Mark and Judy Evans purchased the park in 1993 with the purpose of restoring it to its former beauty. A flood in January 1994, Cyclone Larry in March 2006, and Cyclone Yasi in January 2011 all pushed the project behind.
The hydroelectric system was transferred to Germany for rehabilitation before being rebuilt in 2009, providing the park with sustainable electricity.