History
In June, 1770, Captain James Cook arrived in the crippled sailing vessel – His Majesty's Bark Endeavour.
The English crew spent almost seven weeks on the site of the present day Cooktown, repairing their ship, locating food, and caring for the sick. The wealthy scientist, Joseph Banks, and naturalist Daniel Solander, who accompanied Cook on the expedition, went collecting, preserving and documenting many new species of plants.
Historical Buildings
Cooktown is an historical town and many of its fine old buildings have been preserved. The photos below were taken on my walk along Charlotte Street. I didn't get to see all of them as the weather was very hot and I only had a certain amount of time.
The magnificent Bank building, heritage listed both inside and out, was originally built in 1881 as the Queensland National Bank. Typical pf the Victorian era it still retains the original red cedar counters and other decor.
The banking chambers are home to photographic exhibitions conducted by the Cooktown Historical Society. With over 400 glass plate negatives the 2007 exhibition "Cooktown & Palmer - The Early Years" provides a glimpse of our pioneering past.
~ Dedicated (c.1886) to Mrs. Watson who survived an Aboriginal attack on Lizard Island in September 1881 to die later on Number 5 Island of the Howick group for lack of fresh water. The wife of a beche-de-mer fisherman Captain R.F.Watson the attack on her was provoked because their homestead was built on sacred land. One of her two servants was speared but Mrs. Watson her infant son & the other Chinese servant escaped in a boiling down tank to Number 5 Island. Their remains & her diary were found in 1882.
Ferrari Estates was built in 1883 for the Bank of North Queensland.
Originally constructed in 1874, at the port end of Charlotte Street, the Sovereign was transformed into a resort style hotel in 1986.
Seagren's Inn was erected in 1880 by a former mayor, P.E.Seagren, as a store.
It is now a motel/guest house and goes by the name of Chop Suey Louie's
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2 comments:
This a fabulous that you have shared with us, we admire you for sharing the information about these historical buildings.
Exhibition Hire
Thank you for visiting! How wonderful that you should write about Far North Queensland! One of my daughters has lived there since 1995. She lives now outside Cooktown. I have been there 8 times and seen all the buildings in your photos. My favourite place is the Milbi Wall, which is created by local artists supervised by Roy McIver, Aboriginal artist from Hopevale and uncle of my daughter's ex- husband. She has written a book about him and about his life. You saw the monument dedicated to Mary Watson, didn't you? Did you hear the other side of the story? How the Aboriginal tribe was slaughtered afterwards. Very sad and hopefully not repeated anymore.
Next year I hope to go back.
The flowers on your sidebar are very wonderful. My daughter has them in her garden too.Thanks for this post. I love it!
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