The township was formally founded in 1880 making it the oldest town on the Atherton Tablelands. 1,684 km north of Brisbane, 97 km south-west of Cairns and 915 metres above sea level (just 15 minutes from Atherton). The first European exploration of this area was undertaken in 1875 by James Venture Mulligan.

Mulligan was prospecting for gold, but instead found tin. Guided by John Atherton, Newell and a companion, William Jack, they found a tin lode at Herberton in 1880.

The nearest watercourse, the Wild River, is a tributary of the Herbert. Treating them as the one stream Newell, named the place Herberton. The town of Herberton was established on 19 April 1880 by John Newell to exploit the tin find.
Mining began on 9 May and by September of that year, Herberton had a population of 300 men and 27 women.

During the 1882 wet season, tin miners on the Wild River were unable to obtain supplies and were facing famine. The boggy road leading to Port Douglas was proving impassable, meaning no tin went to port. This also meant no supplies came back to Herberton. The result was miners were raising angry voices and began agitating for a railway to the coast.

In 1910 the railway was extended from Atherton to Herberton, connecting the town via rail to Cairns on the coast.

A grand opening was held at the Herberton Station on 20th October 1910. The Atherton Herberton Historic Railway Inc has an active railway museum in Herberton. They operate train rides from Herberton Railway station to the Historic Village on the recently restored, and commissioned, 1905 Peckett Steam Locomotive.

They hope to extend the Tablelands Rail Trail from Platypus station, Atherton, to Herberton and maybe Ravenshoe. ie Atherton Tablelands Rail Trail.

The Mining Museum has a number of pleasant walks which evoke the mining past of the town.

Mining Museum offers a journey through the history of mining in the area with a metals room (which tells the story of metals and mining) and a visit to the open air mining equipment.

Mining and smelting continued until 1984.

The loss of the mining industry was accompanied by a loss of population in the town.

Visit the Herberton Mining Museum and view the extensive displays, information, and details of the region’s significant global mining history.

In 1973 a privately run historical village housing numerous old buildings and relics collected by Harry and Ellen Skennar was established.

Now known as the Historic Village Herberton, the village was reopened in 2008 under new owners Connie and Craig Kimberley.

With over 60 original buildings,and covering over 16 acres. This award winning tourist attraction is enjoyed by countless locals, interstate and international tourists every year.