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Douglas Shire Historical Society

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25.01.2022 Notes from Cook’s Journal 1770 SOME ACCOUNT OF NEW WALES [Called in Admiralty and the Queen's Copy New South Wales. It would appear that for this part of the voyage Mr. Corner's copy was the first written, and that Cook's first idea was to christen the country New Wales] Here are several sorts of the Palm kind, Mangrove, and several other sorts of small Trees and Shrubs quite unknown to me, besides a very great number of Plants hitherto unknown; but these things are wholy out...Continue reading

24.01.2022 Tubipora musica organ pipe coral August 17, 1770 [Pass Again Inside Barrier Reef.] Friday, 17th. While Mr. Hicks was Examining the opening we struggled hard with the flood, sometime gaining a little and at other times loosing. At 2 o'Clock Mr. Hicks returned with a favourable Account of the Opening. It was immediately resolved to Try to secure the Ship in it. Narrow and dangerous as it was, it seemed to be the only means we had of saving her, as well as ourselves. A light b...Continue reading

24.01.2022 From ‘Cook’s Endeavour’ by Peter Aughton At St Helena they met HMS Portland and Cook entrusted the ship’s log and the precious officer’s journals to Captain Elliot. On 7 July 1771 they were crossing the Bay of Biscay and discovered from another ship that their ship had been given up for lost. News of their arrival at Batavia had reached London as early as January but no further details had reached the public before May. The Endeavour brought back dossiers full of drawings and...Continue reading

23.01.2022 Many congratulations to Noel Weare for winning today's Douglas Shire Australia Day Civic Recognition Award. Noel has worked tirelessly for many years to promote our history, so to be recognised today by the community is a great honour. The executive committee was there to share his celebration. Well done, Noel !

23.01.2022 Hooray! Our Court House Museum will be open again from tomorrow Sunday 19 Sept from 10am till 1pm, and every Tuesday Thursday, Saturday and Sunday after that. Gorgeous new costumes have been created by local dressmaker Kara Dobbin for Ellen Thomson - first woman hanged in Queensland but tried in Port Douglas - her partner John Harrison and Senior Constable Denis Carey and Police Magistrate Michael Fanning. A Covid-safe plan is in place with masks and gloves available if requested and a limit of 10 people. The Museum is also wheelchair accessible. Please don't attend if you're not feeling well. Otherwise, everyone is welcome and the Society is thrilled to be able to share our history once again.

21.01.2022 The Douglas Shire Historical Society marked Remembrance Day today by placing flowers at the Port Douglas War Memorial.

20.01.2022 August 16, 1770 [Ship in Danger, Outside Barrier Reef.] Thursday, 16th. Moderate breezes at East-South-East and fair weather. A little after Noon saw the Land from the Mast head bearing West-South-West, making high; at 2 saw more land to the North-West of the former, making in hills like Islands; but we took it to be a Continuation of the Main land. An hour after this we saw a reef, between us and the land, extending away to the Southward, and, as we thought, terminated here ...Continue reading

20.01.2022 Good news for the iconic Mossman Hospital

19.01.2022 Map from Captain Cook’s Australian landfalls by W D Forsyth August 14, 1770 [Pass Outside Barrier Reef, Queensland.] Tuesday, 14th. Winds at South-East, a steady gale. By 2 P.M. we got out to the outermost reefs, and just fetched to Windward of one of the openings I had discover'd from the Island; we tacked and Made a short trip to the South-West, while the Master went in the pinnace to examine the Channel, who soon made the signal for the Ship to follow, which we according...Continue reading

18.01.2022 Photo of White-bellied sea eagle August 13, 1770 Monday, 13th. At 2 P.M. I left Lizard Island in order to return to the Ship, and in my way landed upon the low sandy Isle mentioned in coming out. We found on this Island [Eagle Island] a pretty number of Birds, the most of them sea Fowl, except Eagles; 2 of the Latter we shott and some of the others; we likewise saw some Turtles, but got none, for the reasons before mentioned. After leaving Eagle Isle I stood South-West direct...Continue reading

18.01.2022 More observations from Cook’s Journal 1770 He named the whole east coast New Wales, and later New South Wales. Queensland was proclaimed as a separate state in 1859. [Account of New South Wales Coast.] The Coast of this Country, at least so much of it as lays to the Northward of 25 degrees of Latitude, abounds with a great Number of fine bays and Harbours, which are Shelter'd from all winds; but the Country itself, so far as we know, doth not produce any one thing that can be...Continue reading

18.01.2022 Painting of George Grenville Sketch of aboriginals by Sydney Parkinson August 19 1770 [Amongst the shoals off Cape Grenville]...Continue reading

17.01.2022 Our history was celebrated again today with a gathering to view the new historic post and a pile from the original Diggers Bridge, which have been added to the restored park at Craiglie. Douglas Shire Council has upgraded Teamsters Park and consulted with the Society to present the wooden pile, which was discovered when Diggers Bridge at Mowbray was replaced. Watch Channel 7 news tonight for President Freda and Noel's comments.

17.01.2022 August 23 1770 [In Endeavour Strait, Torres Strait.] Thursday, 23rd. In the P.M. had little wind and Variable, with which and the Tide of Flood we keept advancing to the West-North-West; depth of Water 8, 7, and 5 fathoms. At 1/2 past 1 the pinnace, which was ahead, made the Signal for Shoal Water, upon which we Tackt and sent away the Yawl to sound also, and then Tack'd again, and stood after them with the Ship; 2 hours after this they both at once made the Signal for having...Continue reading

14.01.2022 Tomorrow is your last chance before the holidays to visit the Port Douglas Court House Museum. It will close until January 5th 2021. Open tomorrow between 10 and 1. Happy holidays from the Douglas Shire Historical Society committee and members.

14.01.2022 This is the end of entries from James Cook about his voyage up the Queensland coast. We hope you have all enjoyed reading his first hand account. For an interesting insight, follow this link... http://www.abc.net.au//james-cook-250-anniversar/12251968 See more

12.01.2022 Map from ‘Endeavour’ by Peter Aughton August 20, 1770 [Nearing Cape York, Queensland]...Continue reading

11.01.2022 A short history of boating on the Daintree River

09.01.2022 This was on Channel 7 News last night.

09.01.2022 Come and hear some stories about the Daintree River from Jaki Turner who started the tourists boats with her late husband. Monday's meeting is at 2pm at the Mossman Community Centre. Everyone's welcome including non members. Covid suggests BYO cup for some arvo tea.

09.01.2022 August 24 SAILING ON after August 23 1770 Notes on Cook’s Journal from W J L Wharton 1893: [The east coast of Australia, which Cook had now followed from end to end, is 2000 miles in extent. He took four months over it, much less time than he had given to New Zealand; but this is easily accounted for. His people were getting worn out, and he was haunted by fears of not getting off the coast before the North-West monsoon set in, which would have been a foul wind for him in get...Continue reading

09.01.2022 A wooden slice of history will greet travellers at a spruced up green rest stop near Port Douglas. An old timber bridge pile from the original Anzac Bridge, ...which was built by returning World War One soldiers in 1919, has been preserved thanks to the Douglas Shire Historical Society & Council staff. Council has completed a $250,000 upgrade to Teamsters Park, located on the Captain Cook Highway past the Mowbray River Bridge. Read more & see the photos here https://bit.ly/2GpbxIg

08.01.2022 Another one bites the dust. Today they're demolishing the old cottage in Macrossan St that used to house the Imagine shop.

08.01.2022 Come along to the Port Douglas Community Hall to view an exhibition of photos of floods in our area. Pam is giving the opening address in Port at 5pm on Thurs 19th and in Daintree Village at the cafe on Tuesday 24th at 10am The Port display is open on Friday and Saturday between 10 and 4, and in Daintree Village on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 10 and 4. Free entry. Bring your friends. See you there.

06.01.2022 The Duke of York, Edward Augustus August 21, 1770 Tuesday, 21st. Winds at East by South and East-South-East, fresh breeze. By one o'Clock we had run nearly the length of the Southermost of the 2 Islands before mentioned, and finding that we could not well go to windward of them without carrying us too far from the Main land, we bore up, and run to Leeward, where we found a fair open passage. This done, we steer'd North by West, in a parrallel direction with the Main land, lea...Continue reading

06.01.2022 August 22 1770 [Landing upon Possession Island] Caption for painting at Possession Island by John Gilfilan:: The first Englishman to visit Australia was Captain Dampier, who spent a few weeks on the northwest coast in 1688. The Dutch subsequently sent out expeditions, but the most important discoveries in the region were made by Capt Cook (1768-1771). In 1768 the great explorer was put in command of the Endeavour, chartered by the Royal Society to take astronomers to the Pac...Continue reading

06.01.2022 Cook’s Journal from 1770 The Natives of this Country are of a middle Stature, streight Bodied and Slender limb'd; their Skins the Colour of Wood soot, their Hair mostly black, some Lank and others curled; they all wear it Cropt Short; their Beards, which are generally black, they likewise crop short, or Singe off. There features are far from being disagreeable, and their Voices are soft and Tunable. They go quite Naked, both Men and Women, without any manner of Cloathing what...Continue reading

04.01.2022 Here's our Vice President Peter and Treasurer Anne at the cenotaph yesterday

04.01.2022 Everyone is welcome to our first meeting for some months - Monday October 12 at 2pm at Mossman Community Centre. Noel will present some historic slides with commentary and invites comments from the audience. His topics are Buchanan's Court House Hotel in Port Douglas, Boorandarra property near Anich's Hole and general Douglas Shire history. Because of Covid, could you please bring your own cup for arvo tea. We will be socially distanced.

03.01.2022 Sketch of a burial at sea from ‘Cook’s Endeavour’ by Peter Aughton Peter Aughton wrote: For 10 uneventful days the ship headed further west, standing well off short from the island of Java. The Strait of Sunda was the entrance to Batavia. It lay between the islands of Java and Sumatra. On 11 October the Endeavour entered Batavia Road and Cook sent his first lieutenant ashore to apologise to the governor for not saluting: most of his guns lay at the bottom of Endeavour Reef. ...Continue reading

02.01.2022 THE COURTHOUSE MUSEUM WILL BE CLOSED THIS TUESDAY, MELBOURNE CUP DAY

01.01.2022 The Society has assisted with a display at Mossman Library commemorating Remembrance Day, thanks to Bel. Pop along there soon to take it in.

01.01.2022 August 15 1770 Wednesday, 15th. Fresh Trade at South-East and Clear weather. At 6 in the evening shortned sail and brought too, with her head to the North-East. By this time we had run near 12 Leagues upon a North-West 1/2 North Course since Noon. At 4 a.m. wore and lay her head to the South-West, and at 6 made all Sail, and steer'd West, in order to make the land, being fearful of over shooting the passage, supposing there to be one, between this land and New Guinea. By noon... we had run 10 Leagues upon this Course, but saw no land. Our Latitude by observation was 13 degrees 2 minutes South, Longitude 216 degrees 00 minutes West, which was 1 degree 23 minutes to the West of Lizard Island. Banks wrote: 15. Fine weather and moderate trade. The Captn fearfull of going too far from the Land, least he should miss an opportunity of examining whether or not the passage which is layd down in some charts between New Holland and New Guinea realy existed or not, steerd the ship west right in for the land; about 12 O'Clock it was seen from the Mast head and about one the Reef laying without it in just the same manner as when we left it. He stood on however resolving to stand off at night after having taken a nearer view, but just at night fall found himself in a manner embayd in the reef so that it was a moot Point whether or not he could weather it on either tack; we stood however to the Northward and at dark it was concluded that she would go clear of every thing we could see. The night however was not the most agreable: all the dangers we had escapd were little in comparison of being thrown upon this reef if that should be our lot. A Reef such a one as I now speak of is a thing scarcely known in Europe or indeed any where but in these seas: it is a wall of Coral rock rising almost perpendicularly out of the unfathomable ocean, always overflown at high water commonly 7 or 8 feet, and generaly bare at low water; the large waves of the vast ocean meeting with so sudden a resistance make here a most terrible surf Breaking mountain high, especialy when as in our case the general trade wind blows directly upon it.

01.01.2022 August 18, 1770 Saturday, 18th. Gentle breezes at East and East-South-East. At 4 P.M. the Boats return'd from the Reef with about 240 pounds of Shell-fish, being the Meat of large Cockles, exclusive of the Shells. Some of these Cockles are as large as 2 Men can move, and contain about 20 pounds of Meat, very good. At 6 in the morning we got under sail, and stood away to the North-West, as we could not expect a wind to get out to Sea by the same Channel as we came in without w...aiting perhaps a long time for it, nor was it advisable at this time to go without the Shoals, least we should by them be carried so far off the Coast as not to be able to determine wether or no New Guinea joins to or makes a part of this land. This doubtful point I had from my first coming upon the Coast, determined, if Possible, to clear up; I now came to a fix'd resolution to keep the Main land on board, let the Consequence be what it will, and in this all the Officers concur'd. In standing to the North-West we met with very irregular soundings, from 10 to 27 fathoms, varying 5 or 6 fathoms almost every Cast of the Lead. However, we keept on having a Boat ahead sounding. A little before noon we passed a low, small, sandy Isle, which we left on our Starboard side at the distance of 2 Miles. At the same time we saw others, being part of large Shoals above water, away to the North-East and between us and the Main land. At Noon we were by observation in the Latitude of 12 degrees 28 minutes South, and 4 or 5 Leagues from the Main, which extended from South by West to North 71 degrees West, and some Small Islands extending from North 40 degrees West to North 54 degrees West, the Main or outer Reef seen from the Masthead away to the North-East. Banks wrote: 18. Weighd and stood along shore with a gentle breeze, the main still 7 or 8 Leagues from us. In the even many shoals were ahead; we were however fortunate enough to find our way through them and at night anchord under an Island. The tide here ran immensely strong which we lookd upon as a good omen: so strong a stream must in all probability have an outlet by which we could get out either on the South or North side of New Guinea. The smoothness of the water however plainly indicated that the reef continued between us and the Ocean.