The oldest eruptions created large, gently sloping 'shield volcanoes' that produced extensive basalt flows.

These flows filled the pre-existing valleys, producing a relatively flat tableland surface, instead of the more dissected landscape that existed previously.

Although all the volcanoes in the Atherton Basalt Province are regarded as being extinct and volcanism has been waning over time, given the relatively recent activity, it is possible that further eruptions could occur in the future.

[9] Aboriginal people with ties to the region seek to maintain their culture today,[10] despite a long period of forced removal from their lands following European occupation in the late 19th-early 20th century.

The town of Herberton was established on 19 April 1880 by John Newell to exploit the tin find, and mining began on 9 May.

[15] At its apogee, Herberton was the richest tin mining field in Australia, and was home to 17 pubs, 2 local newspapers and a brewery.

In the late 19th century, the Mulligan Highway was built through the hills from Herberton and passed through what is now Main Street, Atherton, before continuing down to Port Douglas.

As part of the mining and timber booms a large population of Chinese-Australians moved into the Atherton Tableland region.

[19] Crops grown in and around Atherton include banana, sugarcane, corn/maize, avocados, strawberries, macadamia nuts and mangoes and citrus.

[23] Tourism is the second largest economic driver of the Atherton Tablelands economy, with Tinaroo Dam and extensive trail network being the focal point.

[24] Twelve species of birds are endemic to this area and the mountain ranges immediately south: Atherton scrubwren, Bower's shrikethrush, bridled honeyeater, chowchilla, fernwren, golden bowerbird, grey-headed robin, Macleay's honeyeater, mountain thornbill, pied monarch, tooth-billed bowerbird and Victoria's riflebird.