Innot Hot Springs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Innot Hot Springs Queensland
Nettle Creek Tin Dredge at Innot Hot Springs, 2009
Innot Hot Springs Location in Queensland
Population	189 (2021 census)
• Density	0.2709/km2 (0.702/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4872
Area	697.8 km2 (269.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	15.7 km (10 mi) E of Mount Garnet 30.0 km (19 mi) WSW of Ravenshoe 80.0 km (50 mi) SW of Atherton 145 km (90 mi) SW of Cairns 1,744 km (1,084 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Tablelands Region
State electorate(s)	Hill
Federal Division(s)	Kennedy
Localities around Innot Hot Springs: Mount Garnet Silver Valley Millstream Gunnawarra Innot Hot Springs Koombooloomba Gunnawarra Glen Ruth Glen Ruth

Innot Hot Springs is a small town in the Tablelands Region of Queensland, Australia. It's known for its amazing natural hot springs! In 2021, about 189 people lived here.

Where is Innot Hot Springs?

Innot Hot Springs is about 153 kilometers (95 miles) southwest of Cairns. You can reach it by following the Kennedy Highway.

The town is located between Mount Garnet and Ravenshoe in Far North Queensland. It sits on the northern edge of its local area.

Rivers and Creeks

The Herbert River flows through the area, heading south. The Wild River joins the Herbert River in the north. Nettle Creek also flows through the town and joins the Herbert River further south.

The Famous Hot Springs

The town was built around three hot mineral springs found in Nettle Creek. These springs are super hot, with temperatures between 74 and 85 degrees Celsius (165 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit)!

Aboriginal Legend of the Springs

According to the Mamu people, who are the traditional owners of this land, the hot springs were created long ago in the Dreamtime. They tell a story about a large sea turtle. This turtle had a hot stone placed in her stomach. She hurried from the sea to this spot to warm the waters. From that day on, she said that all big turtles must stay in the ocean, but small tortoises could live in the freshwater rivers on land.

History of Innot Hot Springs

Europeans first explored the hot springs in the early 1870s. However, they weren't really used until 1885. That's when Charles Overend Garbutt rediscovered them. Local Aboriginal people told him that the springs had special healing powers.

In the old days, many people believed that bathing in and drinking mineral spring water could help with health problems. Because of this, a man named Antonie Antonevic leased the land around the springs in 1886. The lease changed hands a few times before (Neil) Charles Spranklin took it over in the late 1890s. He is seen as the main person who helped develop the springs into a popular spot.

Mr. C. Spranklin, who helped develop the hot springs

Early Development

By 1888, there was a two-story house and bathing sheds near the springs. In 1891, the hotel could only fit 12 guests, but the owner was building a bigger hotel. The spring water was too hot for bathing directly. So, the hot water was piped into bathtubs each morning and left to cool. Guests could then comfortably bathe later in the day. In 1900, Spranklin added four new bathrooms, which was a big improvement.

Bottled Water and Fire

In the 1900s, Spranklin started a factory to bottle water from the springs. He even shipped it to Europe as a health treatment! In 1912, people suggested that the hot springs were one of three "beauty spots" in the Cairns area that needed to be protected.

In 1918, a fire broke out at the hotel when Spranklin was away. The maid, Nellie Hogg, and others worked hard to save the hotel. They managed to put out the fire, though some repairs were needed. Charles Spranklin passed away in 1929. His son, James Thomas Spranklin, took over the hotel but sadly died in 1931. After that, Jack and Mabel McBride became the new owners.

Schools in the Area

A school called Lower Nettles Provisional School opened around July 1911. For a short time in 1916, it shared a teacher with Coolgarra State School. It closed later that year.

Innot Hot Springs State School opened on June 1, 1940. However, it closed on June 30, 1957, because not enough students were attending.

What to See and Do

The hot springs are still open for people to visit and enjoy today!

Heritage Sites

Innot Hot Springs has one special heritage-listed site:

• Nettle Creek Tin Dredge at Nettle Creek. This is an old machine used for mining tin.

Education for Kids

There are no schools directly in Innot Hot Springs. For primary school, students usually go to Mount Garnet State School in nearby Mount Garnet or Ravenshoe State School (Junior Campus) in Ravenshoe. For high school, students attend Ravenshoe State School (Senior Campus) in Ravenshoe.