Misplaced Pages

Piper Islands National Park

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
#588411

66-639: The Piper Islands National Park is a national park in Far North Queensland , Australia . It lies 1977 km northwest of Brisbane . It comprises four small islands lying on the inner northern Great Barrier Reef off the eastern coast of the Cape York Peninsula in Temple Bay, between Cape Grenville and Fair Cape. The islands have been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because they have supported over 1% of

132-556: A brickworks, a cabinetmaker, and two newspapers. The port of Cooktown served the nearby goldfields and, during the goldrush of the 1870s, a Chinese community many thousands strong grew up in the goldfields and in the town itself. The Chinese played an important role in the early days of Cooktown. They came originally as prospectors, but many established market gardens, supplying the town and the goldfields with fruit, vegetables and rice, while others opened shops. However, largely through cultural misunderstandings, conflict broke out between

198-488: A lot" and "hunted" Aboriginal people along the way at the Normanby River , Kennedy River, Kavanaugh Creek, St George River and at Battle Camp. At Battle Camp, a large group of Aboriginal men approached MacMillan's camp yelling a war cry, but were forced back by gunfire, some of whom fell. The expedition members then pursued them to a lagoon where many more were shot. Two Aboriginal women and three children were brought back to

264-657: A minor refurbishment in 2015. In 2015 the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns opened the Holy Spirit College as a secondary school for disengaged and marginalised young people. It has with two campuses, one in Cooktown and one in Cairns . The school draws students from a wide area. The Cooktown campus includes a 32-bed boarding facility to offer weekly boarding so that students can return to their families and communities on

330-484: A party in establishing a port on the Endeavour River and a road from there to the goldfields. MacMillan arrived at the river on 25 October 1873 on board the vessel Leichhardt with an entourage of around seventy other government men and prospectors. A new township was immediately established on the southern bank of the river which was later officially gazetted under the name of Cooktown. A local Aboriginal man who took

396-565: A peak of 1,622 metres (5,322 ft) it is the highest peak in both Northern Australia and Queensland. The Far North region is the only region of Australia that is the indigenous country of both Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders . Far North Queensland supports a significant agricultural sector, a number of significant mines and is home to Queensland's largest wind farm, the Windy Hill Wind Farm . Various government departments and agencies have different definitions for

462-552: A popular tourist destination. The paving of the Mulligan Highway now provides all-weather access by road for the first time. There are two flights a day connecting Cooktown with Cairns. The town now has good communications, more services, better roads, and offers residents a relaxed and healthy lifestyle. Cooktown is a service centre for the district including the Aboriginal communities of Hope Vale , 47 kilometres (29 mi) to

528-523: A surveying flag while the area was being initially charted was shot at with a barrage of gunfire from both colonists aboard the Leichhardt and from Native Police under the command of Robert Arthur Johnstone . The man managed to survive unharmed. MacMillan soon after led an expedition of 110 diggers, police and officials to blaze a trail from Cooktown to the Palmer River Goldfields . They "shot

594-583: A tropical climate and as such, the name Tropical North Queensland is also used as the name for the region, mostly due to the tourism industry. Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) defines its area from Cardwell in the south up to the Torres Strait in the north and west to the Queensland border with the Northern Territory. However, the phrase Tropical North Queensland is ambiguous and may be used to name

660-566: A wider area including parts of North Queensland , or even Mackay . Cooktown, Queensland Download coordinates as: Cooktown is a coastal town and locality in the Shire of Cook , Queensland , Australia. Cooktown is at the mouth of the Endeavour River , on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland where James Cook beached his ship, the Endeavour , for repairs in 1770. Both

726-612: Is an Australian Aboriginal language of Hope Vale and the Cooktown area. The language region includes the local government area of the Aboriginal Shire of Hope Vale and the Shire of Cook , particularly the localities of Cape Bedford , Battle Camp and sections of the Normanby River and Annan River . In the local Guugu Yimithirr language the name for the region is Gangaar Aboriginal pronunciation: [ɡ̊anˈɡaːr] , which means "(Place of the) Rock Crystals". Quartz crystals were used in various Aboriginal ceremonies across

SECTION 10

#1732909406589

792-598: Is an Australian Aboriginal language in North Queensland. The language region includes areas from the Upper Herbert River to Mount Garnet . Yir Yiront (also known as Yiront , Jirjoront , Yir-yiront , and Kokomindjan ) is an Australian Aboriginal language. Its traditional language region is in Western Cape York within the local government areas of Aboriginal Shire of Kowanyama and Shire of Cook , in

858-469: Is an Australian Aboriginal language of the Mossman and Daintree areas of North Queensland. The language region includes areas within the local government area of Shire of Douglas and Shire of Cook , particularly the localities of Mossman, Daintree, Bloomfield River , China Camp, Maytown , Palmer , Cape Tribulation and Wujal Wujal . Warungu (also known as Warrungu , Warrongo , and Waroongoo . )

924-474: Is located about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) north of Brisbane and 328 kilometres (204 mi) north of Cairns , by road. Cooktown is about 857 kilometres (533 mi) south of Cape York by road. Cooktown is at the mouth of the Endeavour River , on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland where James Cook beached his ship, the Endeavour , for repairs in 1770. The town was named after Cook. The rugged Mount Cook (431 metres (1,414 ft))

990-400: Is now known as Reconciliation Rocks. A "little old man" appeared from the group of Indigenous Australians and they were reconciled. This was an important historic event as it is believed that this is the first recorded reconciliation between Europeans and Indigenous Australians ever". Cook named the river the "Endeavour" after his ship, and, as they sailed north, he hoisted the flag known as

1056-650: Is where it stopped. By that time the gold was petering out, so the Queensland Government refused further funding for the venture. In spite of this, the train proved to be a lifeline for the Peninsula people connecting the hinterland to Cooktown, from where one could catch a boat to Cairns and other southern ports. The line was closed in 1961 after the Peninsula Development Road was built connecting Cooktown and other Peninsula communities with Cairns and

1122-793: The Atherton Tableland to the south. The Cooktown Parish of the Roman Catholic Church was established in 1874 with the Cooktown becoming the seat of the Vicariate Apostolic of Cooktown in 1877 (which became the Diocese of Cairns in 1941). Cooktown's magnificent Botanic Garden of 62 hectares (150 acres) was established near the town in 1878. Much work was done in the early stages – with wells sunk, water reticulated, garden beds enclosed, stone-lined paths, stone-pitched pools and footbridges made, and lawns, trees and shrubs planted. Although

1188-613: The Atherton Tableland , Hinchinbrook Island and other resort islands such as Dunk Island and Green Island . Major attractions around and in Cairns include Cairns Aquarium , Cairns Botanic Gardens , The Reef Hotel Casino , Kuranda Scenic Railway , Barron Falls and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway . Towns and localities attracting large numbers of tourists include Cape Tribulation , Port Douglas , Mission Beach and Cardwell . The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates

1254-593: The British Museum and Kew Gardens . King returned again to the region in 1820 as part of the same surveying expedition and this time collated a small record of the local Aboriginal language. He established that Captain Cook was incorrect in the interpretation of the word kangaroo , with King noting that menuah was the local name for the large macropod . Large outrigger canoes made by the resident Aboriginal people were also noted. In 1872, William Hann discovered gold in

1320-688: The Pacific Ocean in the east and extending inland to west of Mount Mulgrave . This includes the local government boundaries of the Shire of Douglas , the Shire of Cook and the Aboriginal Shire of Wujal Wujal and the towns and localities of Cooktown , Mossman , Daintree , Cape Tribulation and Wujal Wujal . It includes the head of the Palmer River , the Bloomfield River , China Camp , Maytown , and Palmerville . Kuku Yalanji (also known as Gugu Yalanji , Kuku Yalaja , and Kuku Yelandji )

1386-511: The Palmer River , about 200 kilometres (120 mi) inland from the Endeavour River. His findings were reported to James Venture Mulligan who led an expedition to the Palmer River in 1873. Mulligan's expedition found quantities of alluvial gold and thus began the gold rush that was to bring prospectors from all over the world. The Queensland government responded quickly to Mulligan's reports, and dispatched Archibald Campbell MacMillan to lead

SECTION 20

#1732909406589

1452-466: The Palmer River , the Bloomfield River , China Camp , Maytown , and Palmerville . The site of modern Cooktown was the meeting place of two vastly different cultures when, in June 1770, the local Aboriginal Guugu Yimithirr tribe cautiously watched the crippled sailing ship – His Majesty's Bark Endeavour – limp up the coast seeking a safe harbour after sustaining serious damage to its wooden hull on

1518-514: The Solomon Islands and Vanuatu . Cairns has the highest population of Papua New Guineans outside of Papua New Guinea itself. Yalanji (also known as Kuku Yalanji , Kuku Yalaja , Kuku Yelandji , and Gugu Yalanji) is an Australian Aboriginal language of Far North Queensland. The traditional language region is Mossman River in the south to the Annan River in the north, bordered by

1584-762: The Torres Strait , and west to the Gulf Country . The waters of Torres Strait include the only international border in the area contiguous with the Australian mainland , between Australia and Papua New Guinea . The region is home to three World Heritage Sites , the Great Barrier Reef , the Wet Tropics of Queensland and Riversleigh , Australia's largest fossil mammal site. Far North Queensland lays claim to over 70 national parks , including Mount Bartle Frere ; with

1650-422: The " Queen Anne Jack " and claimed possession of the whole eastern coast of Australia for Britain. He named Cape York Peninsula after the then- Duke of York and Albany (" The Grand Old Duke of York "). In 1969 an American-sponsored expedition discovered six of Cook's cannons, as well as ballast from his ship. These artifacts are now in various museums around the world. The next recorded European expedition to

1716-474: The "Peninsula Development Road" opened up to the south, the population declined to just a few hundred people before it gradually began to climb again. Since then, Cooktown and the Endeavour River Valley area have become a major attraction to biologists and illustrators of plants and animals. Vera Scarth-Johnson (1912–1999), spent almost thirty years (1972 to 1999) illustrating the flowering plants of

1782-434: The Aboriginal people and the new settlers, and the diggers. The Cooktown Herald , 8 December 1875, reported: "The natives wholly ignorant of the terrible firepower of fire-arms, and confiding in their numbers, showed a ferocity and daring wholly unexpected and unsurpassed. Grasping the very muzzles of the rifles they attempted to wrest them from the hands of the whites, standing to be shot down, rather than yield an inch...." It

1848-572: The Australian coast. It impacted the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland in April 2006. In January 2011, Cyclone Yasi passed over Tully and resulted in an estimated $ 3.6 billion worth of damage, making it the costliest cyclone ever to hit Australia. In December 2023, Cyclone Jasper crossed the Far North Queensland coast south of Cooktown as a category two cyclone. It later stalled over

1914-718: The Bloomfield River. Also in 1888, five Irish nuns from the Sisters of Mercy Order arrived in Cooktown and established a Catholic convent school. The original building is now used as the Cooktown Museum (formerly the James Cook Historical Museum). In 1893 the town was described as follows: With the gold rush over, the number of people living in the area started dwindling. Two major fires struck Cooktown – in 1875 and, again, in 1919 when whole blocks of buildings in

1980-454: The Commission members and local residents as they left on 7 August 1887. Transport was an ongoing problem for the new settlers. Getting supplies and people to the goldfields often took three weeks. After every wet season the tracks and bridges had to be remade. A railway line from Cooktown to Maytown , was planned, but it took five years to get the 67 miles (108 km) to Laura – and that

2046-643: The Endeavour Reef, south of Cooktown. The Guugu Yimithirr people saw the Endeavour beach in the calm waters near the mouth of their river, which they called "Wahalumbaal". The captain of the Endeavour, Lieutenant James Cook, wrote: "... it was happy for us that a place of refuge was at hand; for we soon found that the ship would not work, and it is remarkable that in the whole course of our voyage we had seen no place that our present circumstances could have afforded us

Piper Islands National Park - Misplaced Pages Continue

2112-458: The Endeavour and McIvor River valleys. Tin was found in the Annan River area, south of Cooktown, in 1884. In 1886, Lutheran missionaries came to Cooktown to establish a secure place for the Aboriginal people who were living in abominable conditions on the edge of the town. Missions were established at Elim on the beach (later they moved inland to Hopevale ), and Wujal Wujal , near the mouth of

2178-902: The Lutheran missions at Hope Vale and Bloomfield were forcibly removed – most being taken south to Woorabinda in May, 1942, while some of the elderly people were sent to Palm Island . The senior missionary, Pastor Schwartz (known as Muni to the local people), was arrested and placed in internment, suspected of being an enemy sympathiser. The Aboriginal people were not allowed to return to their homelands until 1949. Many Aboriginal people died when moved from their traditional lands, and many Aboriginal and white families never returned from their exile. In October 1942 detachments of 16 Australian Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers travelled to Cooktown, Mount Surprise and Coen to build Repeater Huts. Some 20,000 Australian and American troops were stationed in and around

2244-534: The Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns Civic Theatre, and Cairns Art Gallery. The region supports a large tourism industry and is considered a premier tourist destination in Australia. Nearly one third of international visitors to the state come to the region. Attractions include the Great Barrier Reef , Daintree Rainforest and other Queensland tropical rain forests within the Wet Tropics of Queensland heritage area,

2310-423: The area and about 4,000 permanent residents in the town by 1880. At that time, Cooktown boasted a large number of hotels and guest houses. There were 47 licensed pubs within the town boundaries in 1874 although this number had dropped to 27 by the beginning of 1880. There were also a number of illegal grog shops and several brothels. There were bakeries, a brewery and a soft drinks factory, dressmakers and milliners,

2376-616: The area was in 1819, when Captain Phillip Parker King on board HMS Mermaid , visited the Endeavour River during his surveying voyage around Australia. They camped for two weeks at the mouth of the river in order to construct a new dinghy, and had mostly friendly interactions with the local Aboriginal people until an argument occurred over the possession of clothes. Spears and musket-fire were exchanged but no injuries were sustained. A botanist, Allan Cunningham , accompanied King on this journey and collected numerous botanical specimens for

2442-601: The area. Many mining towns have come and gone, going through a boom and bust cycle as mines were depleted. The Mount Mulligan mine disaster occurred on 19 September 1921. Seventy-five workers were killed, making it the third-worst coal mining accident in Australia. The region suffered Queensland's worst maritime disaster on 4 March 1899 when the Mahina Cyclone destroyed all 100 ships moored in Princess Charlotte Bay . The entire North Queensland pearling fleet

2508-403: The camp by the diggers after one of the shootings, where they had in their possession a number of items from a digger who was supposed killed. A later government enquiry into the events found that the expedition members had acted in self defence and were justified in their actions. The Palmer River Goldfields and its centre, Maytown grew quickly, the recorded output of gold from 1873 to 1890

2574-572: The catchments of the Coleman River and Mitchell River . Following the removal of Aboriginal people from their traditional lands, it is also spoken in Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama . Yidinji (also known as Yidinj , Yidiny , and Idindji ) is an Australian Aboriginal language of North Queensland. Its traditional language region is within the local government areas of Cairns Region and Tablelands Region , in such localities as Cairns , Gordonvale ,

2640-416: The continent and are found in the vicinity; they were traded from the Cooktown region at least as far as Mossman , about 300 kilometres (190 mi) south of Cooktown, and possibly much further. Yalanji (also known as Kuku Yalanji , Kuku Yalaja , Kuku Yelandji , and Gugu Yalanji) is an Australian Aboriginal language of Far North Queensland . The traditional language region is Mossman River in

2706-529: The continent at a length of approximately 14,500 kilometres (9,000 mi) and is the longest national highway in the world. Despite being Highway 1, not all sections of the Savannah Way are designated as a federally funded National Highway and certain sections remain unsealed. Despite being in a housing crisis, the region has a very high unoccupied house rate. In the 2021 Australian census in Douglas Shire

Piper Islands National Park - Misplaced Pages Continue

2772-467: The deaths of seven people. In early 2000, Cyclone Steve caused major flooding between Cairns and Mareeba . Cyclone Larry crossed the Queensland coast near Innisfail in March 2006. The storm resulted in an estimated $ 1.5 billion worth of damage and damaged 10,000 homes. 80% of Australia's banana crop was destroyed. Cyclone Monica was the most intense cyclone on record in terms of wind speed to cross

2838-481: The gardens fell into disrepair, in recent years they have been expanded and are a popular destination for botanists and nature lovers. Most of the early stonework has been restored, and beautiful walking tracks lead the visitor through the Botanic Garden to the magnificent beaches at Finch Bay and Cherry Tree Bay. In 1881, a bridge over the Endeavour River was completed, which opened up the richer pastoral lands of

2904-529: The main street were burned to the ground. A major cyclone in 1907 added to the destruction. By 1940, little evidence of Cooktown or Maytown's interesting past remained. During the Second World War , Cooktown became an important base for the war effort. The civilian population of Cooktown was encouraged to evacuate in face of the Japanese advances and by 1942 the vast majority had left. The Aboriginal people of

2970-406: The name of the intriguing animal the natives called gangurru (which he transcribed as "Kangaru"). Cook recorded the local name as "Kangooroo, or Kanguru". The first recorded sighting of kangaroos by Europeans was on Grassy Hill, which rises above the place where the ship was beached. Cook climbed this hill to work out a safe passage for the Endeavour to sail through the surrounding reefs, after it

3036-433: The northwest, and Wujal Wujal , 72 kilometres (45 mi) to the south. Cooktown has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: Cooktown State School is a government primary and secondary (Prep–12) school for boys and girls at Cnr May & Charles Streets ( 15°28′55″S 145°15′03″E  /  15.4820°S 145.2507°E  / -15.4820; 145.2507  ( Cooktown State School ) ). In 2018,

3102-420: The rate of empty homes was 18%. Significant industries include tourism, cattle grazing, agriculture and mining of both sand and bauxite . Agricultural products generate between $ 600 and $ 700 million a year. Sugar cane , tropical fruits including bananas, mangoes, papaya, lychees and coffee are grown in Far North Queensland. The region is home to the world's biggest silica mine at Cape Flattery . The mine

3168-480: The region and then gave her collection to the people of Cooktown. Following her wishes, a beautiful gallery and nature interpretive centre was built in the Cooktown Botanic Gardens to house her collection and promote the study and appreciation of the flora and fauna of the area, which she named "Nature's Powerhouse." The Cooktown Public Library opened in 1995 and underwent a major refurbishment in 2013 and

3234-498: The region is the city of Cairns. Other key population centres include Cooktown , the Atherton Tableland , Weipa , Innisfail and the Torres Strait Islands . The region also consists of many Aboriginal and farming groups. The northeastern point of Highway 1 passes through the region in the city of Cairns and connects the southern-running Bruce Highway to the western-running Savannah Way . Highway 1 circumnavigates

3300-513: The region's population at 280,638 in 2014. The region contains 25.6% of the state's Indigenous population, or 28,909 people, making up 11.8% of the region's population. In addition to its large Indigenous community, there is also a large number of Melanesians in Far North Queensland, due to the region's close proximity to Melanesia . The majority of them are from Papua New Guinea or are South Sea Islanders , who descend from labourers who were blackbirded and brought to Queensland from Fiji ,

3366-602: The region. The Queensland Government department of Trade and Investment Queensland defines the region as an area comprising the following 25 local government areas; Aurukun , Burke , Cairns , Carpentaria , Cassowary Coast , Cook , Croydon , Doomadgee , Douglas , Etheridge , Hope Vale , Kowanyama , Lockhart River , Mapoon , Mareeba , Mornington , Napranum , Northern Peninsula Area , Pormpuraaw , Tablelands , Torres Strait Islands (not autonomous) , Torres Strait Islands (autonomous) , Weipa , Wujal Wujal , and Yarrabah . The main population and administrative centre of

SECTION 50

#1732909406589

3432-409: The same relief". The British crew spent seven weeks on the site of present-day Cooktown, repairing their ship, replenishing food and water supplies, and caring for their sick. The scientist Joseph Banks and Swedish naturalist Daniel Solander , who accompanied Cook on the expedition, took advantage of the 7-week stay to collect, preserve and document over 200 new species of plants, which formed

3498-400: The south to the Annan River in the north, bordered by the Pacific Ocean in the east and extending inland to west of Mount Mulgrave . This includes the local government boundaries of the Shire of Douglas , the Shire of Cook and the Aboriginal Shire of Wujal Wujal and the towns and localities of Cooktown, Mossman , Daintree , Cape Tribulation and Wujal Wujal . It includes the head of

3564-438: The southern York Peninsula resulting in record rainfall along the eastern coast that lead to the 2023 Cairns floods . Port Douglas received more than a metre of rain in a few days. The region has many unique native animal species such as crocodile, endangered southern cassowary, koala, flying possum, python, water dragon, wallabie, flying fox, tree kangaroo, platypus, leaf-tailed gecko and bandicoot. Far North Queensland has

3630-465: The southern part of the Atherton Tableland including Atherton and Kairi . Far North Queensland is the location of the first amber fossils to be found in Australia. The four-million-year-old fossils were found on a beach in Cape York Peninsula but were probably washed ashore after drifting with the currents for about 200 km. In the 1860s, Richard Daintree discovered gold and copper deposits along several rivers which led early prospectors to

3696-486: The town and Mount Cook (431 metres or 1,415 feet) which rises up behind the town were named after James Cook. Cooktown is one of the few large towns in the Cape York Peninsula and was founded on 25 October 1873 as a supply port for the goldfields along the Palmer River . It was called "Cook's Town" until 1 June 1874. In the 2021 census , the locality of Cooktown had a population of 2,746 people. Cooktown

3762-532: The town. The busy airfield played a key role in the crucial Battle of the Coral Sea when Japanese expansion towards the Australian mainland was finally halted. The last military unit, the 27th Operational Base Squadron of the RAAF , ceased operations in Cooktown in April 1946. In 1949, another cyclone devastated the town, and Cooktown's population declined further. With the closure of the rail link to Laura in 1961 and

3828-429: The vast majority of the collection brought back to England from Australia. The young artist Sydney Parkinson illustrated the specimens and he was the first British artist to portray Aboriginal people from direct observation. The illustrations were later published as the famous Banks' Florilegium . After some weeks, Joseph Banks met and spoke with the local people, recording about 50 Guugu Yimithirr words, including

3894-433: The weekends. In the 2016 census , the locality of Cooktown had a population of 2,631 people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 14.5% of the population. 69.9% of people were born in Australia and 78.4% of people spoke only English at home. The most common response for religion was No Religion at 31.5%. In the 2021 census , the locality of Cooktown had a population of 2,746 people. Cooktown has become

3960-474: The world populations of pied imperial pigeons (with up to 4000 nests) and black noddies (up to 7500 nests). This Queensland protected areas related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Far North Queensland Far North Queensland ( FNQ ) is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland . Its largest city is Cairns and it is dominated geographically by Cape York Peninsula , which stretches north to

4026-433: Was an unequal struggle. Whole tribes were wiped out as European settlement spread over Cape York Peninsula . In 1887, a Chinese Investigation Commission to South-East Asia arrived in Cooktown from Canton to investigate the social conditions of Chinese living in the colonies and to establish consulates in them. The visit went well, General Wong Yung Ho was pleased with what they had found, and cheers were exchanged between

SECTION 60

#1732909406589

4092-531: Was established in 1967 and was severely damaged by Cyclone Ita in 2014. Rio Tinto Alcan operates a bauxite mine on the western coast of Cape York Peninsula near Weipa which contains one of the largest bauxite deposits in the world. In recent years, Far North Queensland has become increasingly known for its artistic and creative offerings, with the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair , and Cairns Festival both held annually. Active arts organisation include

4158-453: Was in the bay at the time of the cyclone. Approximately 100 Aboriginals assisting survivors and 307 men from the pearling fleet were drowned. Its pressure was measured at 914 hPa with a recorded tidal surge of 13 m, the highest ever in Australia. The 1918 Mackay cyclone hit the Queensland coast in January of that year, killing 30 people. In March 1997, Cyclone Justin resulted in

4224-655: Was named by Phillip Parker King on 27 June 1818, after James Cook. It forms a backdrop to the town and is now part of the Mount Cook National Park . The area around Cooktown is unusually rich in biodiversity , being close to three major ecozones . Hence, it contains a large proportion of the 3,000 plant species, and the more than 500 terrestrial vertebrates, recorded on Cape York Peninsula. The region contains many rare or unusual species that are of great interest to botanists and zoologists. Guugu Yimithirr (also known as Koko Yindjir, Gugu Yimidhirr, Guguyimidjir)

4290-405: Was over half a million ounces (more than 15,500 kg). Cooktown was the port through which this gold was exported and supplies for the goldfields brought in. Word of the gold quickly spread, and Cooktown was soon thriving, as prospectors arrived from around the world. Cooktown Post Office opened on 1 January 1874. Population estimates vary widely, but there were probably around 7,000 people in

4356-436: Was repaired. "The visit on the 19th of July 1770 ended in a skirmish after Cook refused to share the turtles he kept on the Endeavour with the local inhabitants. They set fire to the grass around Cook’s camp twice, burning the area and killing a suckling pig. After Cook wounded one of the men with a musket, they ran away. Cook, Banks and some others followed them and caught up with them on a rocky bar near Furneaux Street, which

#588411