* The airstrip here played a role in the Battle of the Coral Sea.
* At the beginning of the Gold Rush there were 1500 Chinese in this area by 1877 (towards the end of the rush) there were 18000 Chinese here. There was a regular passenger service between Hong Kong and Cooktown bringing fossickers at the rate of 1000 per week.
* The museum was a convent run by Sisters of Mercy. During the war all were evacuated to Cairns and the convent building was occupied by fleet Radio Unit Detachment of the US 7th fleet. The attic was the radio room and the 1st floor, living quarters. The ground floor was used to store convent furniture.
* With the gold rush no longer a rush and the economic depression of 1890's visiting ships dwindled. Cooktown was bypassed because Cairns had been developed as a major port.
While the history of the region is interesting we have found that a couple of days is more than enough, unless you have a 4WD and love fishing. From the waterfront you look across at a bay with light aqua water and surrounded by fabulous beaches but you dare not go near the water. The place abounds with wildlife that can do you serious damage and because regular tourism is not catered for the place feels "frustrated". Other than it's past there is no reason for it being here. Sorry to feel this way, but conservation of animals is one thing letting the crocs mate and run amok is quite another. So you get to the top end and look at the gorgeous white sandy beaches, cool aqua water and in all the heat all you can do is look. What a shame.
See all that white sand on the
other side of the bay???
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