Works will soon begin on a $348,000 makeover of the Cattle Creek Mill to transform the old administration building into the new Finch Hatton Trailhead, a mountain biking hub in northern Queensland's Pioneer Valley.
Just like the sugar and lumber millers who previously occupied the site, mountain bikers are expected to bring great wealth to the region, cashing in on the growing popularity of mountain bike tourist from Australia and overseas.
The new Cattle Creek Mill site will have a revitalized façade that will pay homage to the buildings great history – with the addition of a carpark, pump track, bus loading zone and other bike-friendly facilities.
Cr Justin Englert said: “This is the most significant development this region’s seen since timber and coal and milk.
“You’ll see Australian champions come out of here because the kids now will come out of school, they’ll get on their mountain bikes and they’ll ride straight to the bottom (of the trailhead).
“Every kid in town will own a mountain bike.”
As well as locals, the new mountain biking hub is hoping to attract cashed-up mountain bikers from all around the world, acting as a home base for further exploration of the valley's developing network of trails.
There is even talk of a $126 million chair lift connecting the peak of Finch Hatton to the Eungella trails.
Consultation closed earlier this year on the concept designs for the Finch Hatton Trailhead.
You can learn more about the project on the Connecting Mackay website.