in the 1880s, there was logging of the rainforest timbers. however, concern about the potential loss of large kauri and cedar pines near the lake led to the establishment of a scenic reserve in 1888 to protect the trees. in 1920, george and margaret curry established a tourism business with lake cruises and a tea house. the completion of the cairns range road (now known as the gillies highway) from gordonvale to atherton in 1926 provided much better access to the area for tourists. in 1934, the queensland government created the lake barrine national park.