This is a personal history filled with all the colour and excitement of frontier times. Toohey succeeds in bringing to life the human stories of the founders of Mareeba, Atherton, Herbertron, Irvinebank, the Evelyn Tableland, Chillagoe, Ravenshoe, Millaa Millaa and Malanda.

In the late 19th century a succession of trailblazers, gold, tin and copper miners, timber cutters and selectors were drawn to the region. Travelling the early tracks as far north as Port Douglas and as far west as Mount Garnet and Chillagoe were the mighty bullock and horse teams, tenacious pack mules, the wonderful Cobb & Co coaches and then the puffing billies.