History & Culture
Aboriginal culture - Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is noted for the strong, rich culture of the Aboriginal people and their Islander neighbours of the Torres Strait. Vibrant and diverse, this region offers opportunities to absorb and connect with the ancient rhythms of this ancient land and people.
The Gold Rush
Little happened after Cooks initial landing until William Hann set out on his overland journey of exploration in 1872. The discovery of payable alluvial gold deposits at the Palmer river in 1873 by James Venture Mulligan, sparked a huge gold rush, drawing prospectors not only from Australia, but also from around the world.
Aboriginal Rock Art
Local Aboriginal history spans over 40,000 years with many stories and landmark events recorded in the extensive rock art galleries on outcrops and in caves throughout Cape York Peninsula.
Cooktown Railway
Hailed as Australia's most unusual railway, the creation of the Cooktown to Laura Railway, was a direct result of the discovery of gold in the Palmer River.
Captain James Cook
With a rich history starting with Captain James Cooks' landing here in 1770, to the Palmer River Gold Rush a hundred years later, Cooktown is one of Queensland's oldest historic towns.
Cooktown Cemetery
The Cooktown cemetery is the final resting place for people of many nationalities, religions and cultures that lived in this remote pioneering town. The stories that unfold within its boundaries bear witness to the tragedies, triumphs and mysteries experienced by the people in the times of the gold rush era, and early settlement of the township.
Aboriginal Culture - Rainforest Coast
Yalada! Welcome to Yalanji country! The area around Rossville, Bloomfield, Ayton and Wujal Wujal is part of the Kuku Yalanji nation, which stretches south from the River Annan near Cooktown.
Aboriginal Culture Cooktown
Wanhtharra nyundu! Welcome to our country! Cooktown lies in Guugu Yimithirr country, a tribal nation which stretched from the Annan River, south of Cooktown, to Princess Charlotte Bay in the north. This is one of the Cape’s forty-one tribal nations, each having its distinct language, history, culture, bush foods and bush medicines.
Aboriginal Culture - Hope Vale & Elim Beach
Wanhtharra nyundu! Welcome to Guugu Yimithirr country! Hopevale (Dyuubi) and Elim Beach (Thiithaarr) are on Guugu Yimithirr country, a tribal nation which stretched from the River Annan, south of Cooktown, to Princess Charlotte Bay in the north.
Mary Watson
Mary Beatrice Watson, nee Phillips, was born in the Cornish town of Truro, England. During the mid 1870's, her family emigrated to Queensland. While working in Cooktown, Mary met Captain R.F. Watson, a beche-de-mer fisherman. The couple married in Cooktown on 30 May 1880. They moved to Lizard Island where their son, Ferrier, was born in 1881. Their homestead was apparently built on an Aboriginal sacred site. It is widely believed that this provoked the attack on the holding.
The Normanby Woman
Mystery and intrigue surround the origins of the 'Normanby Woman'. Over the years, fact and fiction have mingled. Here is one rendition of the story.
Palmer River Goldfields
This remote reserve is located 280 kilometres north-west of Cairns with access via the Whites Creek turnoff from the Peninsula Developmental Road, to Granite and Cannibal creeks, then north to cross the Palmer River at Dog Leg Creek Junction south-east of Maytown - about three hours drive west of the Palmer River Roadhouse.
The Historic Lion's Den Hotel
The infamous Lion's Den Hotel was established in 1875 and is still going strong today.
Cook's Landing - Fast Facts
It is little known that when the Endeavour struck the reef, 23 hours passed before she was floated off, everyone on board took their turn at manning the pumps, falling down exhausted before another took his place. What else happened to the crew in Cooktown.......
H.M.B. Endeavour - Reconciliation Rocks
“It was here on these rocks that a group of eleven Guugu Yimithirr men and James Cook and several of his companions reconciled their differences and restored the peace and friendship that was the defining nature of the European’s seven weeks stay in Endeavour River.”
Grassy Hill - The Lighthouse
Cooktown was established in 1873, but no beacon guided ships through the reef until the lighthouse was built in 1886. It was supplied by Chance Brothers Ltd, England, and for years was one of only four along the Queensland coast. Small lighthouses were staffed by a lone keeper who announced the arrival of ships by raising a flag. At midday a time ball was dropped from the signal staff.
Grassy Hill - The Radar Station
Just as Captain Cook had found Grassy Hill such a natural vantage point, so the aspect proved a natural option for new communication and detection technologies as they were developed.
The Story of Mungurru and Wahalumbaal birri
How Mungurru (the rock python) made the Wahalumbaal birri (the Endeavour River) from the book Aboriginal Tales from Queensland's Endeavour River by Tulo Gordon
Quinkan Galleries
Famous for its rock art, Quinkan Country contains a large and dramatic body of prehistoric rock paintings. These galleries have been identified as being at least 15,000 to 30,000years old and have been included on the Australian Heritage Estate and listed by UNESCO as being among the top 10 rock art sites in the world
