Cooktown walking and exploring guide

Part of Cooktown's relaxed charm is the fact that most places of interest can be seen with a leisurely stroll around town.

A good starting point is the Post Office in Charlotte Street. Located at the intersection of Green Street, this heritage building was erected in 1887. Strolling east you pass the Cooktown School of Art Society's "Elizabeth Guzsely Gallery" with its fine collection by local artists. The Cooktown RSL Club was built in 1885 as the Daintree Divisional Board Council Hall. In 1903 it became the shire council hall. Then in 1919 the Hann & Daintree Divisional Boards amalgamated and became known as the Cook Shire, who operated here until 1932. Past the Cooktown Bowls Club, a recent addition, where visitors are welcome to join in social bowls, to the Lions Park. A small market is held here on Saturday morning. Across the street to the right is the Jackey Jackey Store. Built in 1886 by Joseph Neuman as a general store and living quarters, it was part of a flourishing trade between New Guinea, Cooktown & southern markets. Neuman arrived in Cooktown in 1873 and made his start carting goods by horses and dray to the Palmer River Goldfields. Though now a private residence, the owners display memorabilia of Old Cooktown in the former shop window. From the park you will pass the Old Town Well and the Cairns to Edward Kennedy, who landed at Rockingham Bay in May 1840 on an expedition to explore Cape York and was fatally speared in December 1840.

Then on to the Cook Monument & Cannon. The monument dating from 1887 commemorates the landing in 1770. The cannon was brought to Cooktown at the request of the town Council. On April 10th 1885 Cooktown Council carried the following motion. "A wire be sent to the Premier in Brisbane requesting he supply arms, ammunition & competent officer to take charge against a threat of Russian invasion." The cannon, cast in Scotland in 1803, 3 cannonballs, 2 rifles and 1 officer were sent. It is still fired on the Queen's Birthday Weekend in June. Continue on to Bicentennial Park which was opened in 1988 and is the setting for the annual re-enactment of Cook's landing. BP Australia donated the James Cook Statue to the people of Cooktown. The bronze statute is the work of the Australian sculptor Stanley Hammond. A large granite rock on the foreshore bears a plaque with the inscription "This cairn marks the spot where Captain James Cook beached his barque "HMS Endeavour" in the year 1770". On to the Milbi Wall (The Story Wall) built by Gungarde Aboriginal Community , the Queens Steps and statue of the Miner commemorating the Palmer Gold Rush to the Cooktown Wharf. Here you can try a casting a line or simply "chat with the locals". Just past the Wharf on a walking path is the Powder Magazine. Used for the storage of explosives, it is interesting to note no nails were used in its construction in 1874. It is believed to be the oldest brick building in Cape York.

Walking west from the Post Office, and alongside, are the Cook Shire Council Offices. Originally built, in 1876-77, as a Post & Telegraph Office, it was taken over by the Council in 1893 after fire destroyed their original building. Across the street the Sovereign Resort Hotel. The original Sovereign Hotel was built in 1874 and was one of the first double storey buildings in Cooktown. Partially destroyed during the cyclone of 1949 it attracted the nickname "The Half Sovereign". It has since been demolished to make way for a new building in the Queensland theme. Further on Mrs Watson's Monument is dedicated to Mrs Watson, who survived an Aboriginal attack on Lizard Island, to die later on Number 5 Island of the Howick group. The wife of a beche-de-mer fisherman, Captain R.F.Watson, she remained on their fishing station with her infant son and 2 Chinese servants while he was away fishing. In September 1881 they were attacked by Aboriginals. One of the servants was speared, but Mrs Watson, her infant son and Chinese servant escaped in a boiling down tank to Number 5 Island. Due to there being no fresh water they finally perished. Their remains together with her diary were found in 1882. Across the street the Ferrari Estates, built in 1886 for the Bank of North Queensland, and Seagren's Inn, erected in 1880 by a former mayor P.E.Seagren as a store, lead to the magnificent Bank building.

This was constructed for the Queensland National Bank in 1886. The building was sold to the Bank of New South Wales in 1935 for 250 pounds. It still retains the original red cedar counters and its original set of gold scales used during the Palmer Gold Rush. On the corner of Furneaux Street is the Family Resource Building formerly both bank and Post Office staff quarters. Just a block up Furneaux Street on the corner of Helen Street lies the James Cook Historical Museum. The building, designed by Scottish architect F.D.G.Stanley and constructed in 1889 by the Catholic Church as St Marys Convent for the Sisters of Mercy, was a major centre for the education of women in Far North Queensland until the Second World War. In 1960 the Catholic Church donated the building to the National Trust of Queensland. In 1969 the Trust, the Queensland Government and private individuals provided the funds to save the building from demolition. It has operated as the James Cook museum since 1970. Featuring the original anchor and one of the cannons from "Endeavour," the museum also houses collections on maritime, pastoral, Palmer Goldfields, Indigenous and Chinese history.

In 1999 the $2.3 million James Cook Museum-Cook Gallery Development project was initiated by the National Trust of Queensland funded by the Commonwealth Government through the Federation Fund to help celebrate the Centenary of Federation. Opened in 2002, the Endeavour Gallery exhibition building is a contemporary addition to the old convent. The exhibition features a unique perspective of the "Endeavour's" visit to the Cooktown region in 1770. Continuing on down Charlotte Street on the left is the West Coast Hotel another survivor of the Gold Rush days built in 1874. To your right is the Cooktown Railway Station. This fine old building was originally the nerve centre of the Cooktown-Laura Railway. Originally built in Adelaide Street in 1885 it served as ticket & booking office, waiting room and station master's residence. The 67 mile line operated from 1885 to 1961. It was moved to its present site in 1965 and is now the home of the Cooktown Creative Arts Association. Across the street on the corner of Walker Street is the Cooktown Hotel, formerly the Commercial Hotel. Built in 1875. and re-named the Cooktown Hotel in 1982, it is known locally as the "Top Pub".

The Old Cooktown Hospital in May Street is a magnificent example of Queensland colonial architecture. Built in 1879 it served the community until 1986. Beautifully restored it now stands as Kingdom Hall for the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Grassy Hill & Lighthouse are located at the eastern end of Hope Street. The lookouts provide panoramic views of Cooktown, the Endeavour River & Coral Sea. James Cook climbed the hill on several occasions to view the surrounding reefs enabling him to navigate a safe passage out after repairing his ship. The lighthouse was built in England and shipped to Cooktown in 1885. It was automated in 1927. Between 1942-45 it was complemented by a radar station, subsequently dismantled after World War 2. It served the local community and shipping in the area for 100 years until it was made obsolete, and then restored by the Lions Club.

The Cooktown Botanic Gardens are located along Finch Bay Road and were gazetted on March 8th 1878. Developed on a site favoured by Chinese charcoal burners the park flourished until 1910 and was closed in 1917. Stone pitched waterways and shaded paths were restored in the late 1980's enhancing an area neglected for 70 years. This beautiful reserve, 154 acres of native and exotic plantings, is also the site of Nature's Powerhouse, home to the priceless collection of botanical illustrations of over 150 local flowering plants by the late world-renowned artist Vera Scarth-Johnson. This collection was given, to the people of Cooktown, to encourage us all in appreciating and protecting our unique environment.
Charlie Tanner dedicated his life to recording information about the reptiles of Cape York and its bio diversity. His legacy, bequested to the people of Cooktown, is now a brilliant exhibition of snakes, crocodiles, barramundi and other wonders, designed and constructed by the Queensland Museum and exhibited in Nature's Powerhouse.

Finch Bay at the end of the road is a popular swimming beach. Locals swim at the northern end of the beach only. Wading in the creek running onto the beach should be avoided as it may be inhabited by crocodiles. A beautiful beach at Cherry Tree Bay is accessible by a walking trail from either Grassy Hill or Finch Bay.

The Cooktown Cemetery and Chinese Shrine in Charlotte Street 2.5 kms from the centre of town reflects the pioneering history of Cooktown and the Palmer River Gold Rush . The style of graves indicate religious groupings whilst , of interest, is the virtual absence of Chinese or Aboriginal graves, despite burials of both races being recorded. Many of the events and individuals that contributed to Cooktown's development are remembered. The oldest identifiable grave is that of Rev Francis Tripp who died on the 20 May 1874 at the age of 46 years. The Roman Catholic section contains the graves of the first two Bishops of Cooktown and also the grave of the founding Mother Superior of St Mary's Convent, Mother Mary de Sales. The convent is now the James Cook Historical Museum. .
Historic grave sites include Elizabeth Jardine wife of John Jardine who established "Port Somerset" near the tip of Cape York in 1864.

Mary Watson and her infant son, Ferrier, of Lizard Island, are interred within the cemetery.
Mystery and intrigue surround the origins of the "Normanby Woman" buried in 1886 during the Palmer Gold Rush. Travellers had sighted a fair-skinned woman living with Aborigines. Enticed from the camp and captured by the police, she was washed, dressed fed and put on a horse bound for a new home in Cooktown. Aborigines attacked the party and the woman was injured falling from her horse. She died in Cooktown Hospital refusing all food. Interest ran high and curious people were charged one shilling to view the "Normanby Woman". Whether she was European or fair skinned Aboriginal, or that she died of a broken heart has been the subject of speculation with no-one sure where truth ends and fantasy begins.
A guide to the cemetery is located at the entrance.