Our Area
Gordonvale
The Gordonvale area was first settled in 1877, unofficially named Plain Camp by William Saunders Alley who, with a pioneer named Blackwell, cut a road through to Trinity Inlet to haul out cedar logs. Gold had been discovered at Goldsborough Valley in 1879 bringing in many Chinese and European immigrants and by 1880, the road from Redbank to Alley's Riverstone Hotel was well-used by miners. It also served packers taking goods up Robson's Track to Herberton and Tolga, returning with tin and wolfram to Redbank for export. A string of camps extended along this track, from Goldsborough to Redbank. Packers Camp on the approach to Redbank was a thriving shanty town, occupied mostly by the packers and supporting businesses.
Plain Camp was later named Mulgrave in 1890, then Nelson in 1896. The name Gordonvale was finally settled on in 1914 as a tribute to John Gordon, a canefarmer, butcher and pioneer of the district.
Gordonvale lies approximately 23 km south of Cairns, at the intersection on Highway 1 with the Gilles Range, which winds its way up to the Atherton Tableland. This range road approximately follows the Robson's track previously used by the packers. Gordonvale was located within the Shire of Mulgrave until its amalgamation with the City of Cairns in 1995. Its most famous natural landmark is the imposing Walsh’s Pyramid, which rises steeply to 922m, known as 'Djarrugan' by the original indigenous people.
The first major general store at Gordonvale was built In the late 19th century by the Bryce brothers, to supply the community with both food provisions and equipment. “Snowy” Thomas and his family built a butcher shop with adjoining bakery which added to the service for the community. Three hotels provided other essentials and accommodation for visitors while other industries like blacksmiths, brickworks, smaller grocery stores and a cordial factory cropped up as required.
In the 'Fifties, at one of the local pubs, a challenge settled an argument between two cane farmers after a hard day's work. The challenge was to run up Walsh's Pyramid in the fastest time, to win a small bet. From this origin, the Great Pyramid Mountain Race is now an annual event, attracting around 180 athletes, from the local areas, interstate and internationally. The first official race took place in 1959 and continues annually on the second weekend of August, recognised on the National Race Endurance Calendar.
If you visit the area, Behanna Gorge and Goldsborough Valley have some spectacular scenery.
The “Friends of Gordonvale” commissioned a number of mosaics commemorating the original businesses and shops in the town. These mosaics are cemented permanently within the footpaths directly outside the original sites of the businesses.
The Mulgrave Settlers Museum is located across Gordon St from the mill.
Babinda and District
Babinda lies approximately 60 kilometres south of Cairns and, most years, holds the record for being the wettest place in Australia, with an annual average rainfall of 4279mm. It is a place which depicts the "Wet Tropics", surrounded by lush rainforest.
Babinda derived its name from the indigenous word "binda", which means "waterfall", although other sources claim the word means "mountain". Either way, Babinda has both. With Queensland's highest peak Bartle Frere and World Heritage listed Bellenden Ker range nearby, there are many recreational places for bushwalking, or a swim and picnic on a humid, tropical day.
The annual Harvest Festival is held in June, a celebration of cane harvesting in the area since the pioneering industry began during the 1880's. The opening of the North Coast railway line and the construction of the Babinda Mill in the early 1900's provided the town with increased population. While the Mill no longer stands, mostly due to cyclones Larry and Yasi, Babinda continues as a typical North Queensland sugar town.
There are some lovely historic buildings along the main street, as in the Babinda State hotel, hospital, movie theatre and air raid shelter. For example, the hotel began its life as the only government-owned hotel and boasts one of the longest bars in Queensland, built with beautiful local timbers. The community has also long been proud of their sports people, artists, and never-ending brigade of those who volunteer.
To add to this special part of North Queensland are Bramston Beach, Frankland Islands, Eubenangee Swamp National Park, Russell River National Park, Josephine Falls, Wooroonooran National Park.
Edmonton
Edmonton lies 10kms south of Cairns. In 1881, Thomas Swallow (a biscuit manufacturer) was the first to plant sugar cane in the area, on land known as Hambledon plantation. The water park 'Sugarworld' is on the original site of Swallow's plantation. Swallow opened a sugar mill in 1883, sugar being taken by a horse-drawn tram to Swallow's Wharf at the top of Trinity Inlet. The mill was purchased in 1897 by the Mayor of Cairns and subsequently by CSR.
CSR subdivided the land for tenant cane growers. The Mann family were the first to take up land and have farmed in this district ever since. A tramway was built between Cairns and Gordonvale in 1897, with Hambledon Junction station at about half-way. The station name changed to Edmonton in 1914.
Blackfellow's Creek Primary School commenced 1887, when children from as far away as Nelson (Gordonvale) attended. The school was moved 1910 to the site where Hambledon primary school is today. The Hambledon Hotel opened about the same time and still stands to this day, surrounded by the small township of Edmonton.
Due to the urban sprawl from Cairns during the 1970s-1980s, Hambledon Mill ceased operation. This sprawl continues with added shopping centres and suburbs joining Edmonton with Cairns, along the Bruce Highway.
The Northern Beaches and Suburbs
Smithfield is one of the earliest named localities in the Cairns region, at the end of Redford Road, Caravonica. From 1876, the Hodgkinson goldfield was supplied from Port Douglas, until William Smith cut a track to Cairns. Smithfield became the landing place on the Barron River but due to constant flooding during the Wet season the township was eventually abandoned. The name Smithfield persists as a suburb on the Cook Highway, near the Kuranda turnoff.
The beach suburbs evolved mostly as locals sought out weekend holiday retreats from Cairns and today, span the coast north some 20 kilometres in distance.
Machans Beach's first resident was a widower who transported visitors to and from the beach in an old Model T Ford. He also built a jetty for the tourist boats. During WWII the area was occupied by the Army but afterward reverted to a small beach suburb of Cairns.
Holloways Beach was named after a local landowner, William Holloway, who came to Cairns in about 1910.
Yorkey's Knob was named after a Yorkshireman (George Lawson aka 'Yorkey') who had been an early beche-de-mer fisherman and took up a farming block in 1886. In 1920 much of Yorkey's Knob was acquired by William Varley who subdivided it into residential allotments.
Trinity Beach was probably named after Captain Cook's Trinity Bay. The beachfront Vasey Parade is named after Major General George Vasey, a hero of the New Guinea campaigns who was killed in a plane crash off Trinity Beach in 1948.
Clifton Beach was originally a site accessed from a cane farmer's property - it was named after the birthplace of farmer Fairweather's wife, Clifton on the Darling Downs.
Palm Cove is between the headland Buchan Point and Clifton Beach. In the late nineteenth century it was a palm tree plantation. The beach became known as Palm Beach but was renamed Palm Cove in 1980. In 1958 the first of resort-style accommodation was opened, followed by caravan parks near the jetty and in Vievers Road.
Plain Camp was later named Mulgrave in 1890, then Nelson in 1896. The name Gordonvale was finally settled on in 1914 as a tribute to John Gordon, a canefarmer, butcher and pioneer of the district.
Gordonvale lies approximately 23 km south of Cairns, at the intersection on Highway 1 with the Gilles Range, which winds its way up to the Atherton Tableland. This range road approximately follows the Robson's track previously used by the packers. Gordonvale was located within the Shire of Mulgrave until its amalgamation with the City of Cairns in 1995. Its most famous natural landmark is the imposing Walsh’s Pyramid, which rises steeply to 922m, known as 'Djarrugan' by the original indigenous people.
The first major general store at Gordonvale was built In the late 19th century by the Bryce brothers, to supply the community with both food provisions and equipment. “Snowy” Thomas and his family built a butcher shop with adjoining bakery which added to the service for the community. Three hotels provided other essentials and accommodation for visitors while other industries like blacksmiths, brickworks, smaller grocery stores and a cordial factory cropped up as required.
In the 'Fifties, at one of the local pubs, a challenge settled an argument between two cane farmers after a hard day's work. The challenge was to run up Walsh's Pyramid in the fastest time, to win a small bet. From this origin, the Great Pyramid Mountain Race is now an annual event, attracting around 180 athletes, from the local areas, interstate and internationally. The first official race took place in 1959 and continues annually on the second weekend of August, recognised on the National Race Endurance Calendar.
If you visit the area, Behanna Gorge and Goldsborough Valley have some spectacular scenery.
The “Friends of Gordonvale” commissioned a number of mosaics commemorating the original businesses and shops in the town. These mosaics are cemented permanently within the footpaths directly outside the original sites of the businesses.
The Mulgrave Settlers Museum is located across Gordon St from the mill.
Babinda and District
Babinda lies approximately 60 kilometres south of Cairns and, most years, holds the record for being the wettest place in Australia, with an annual average rainfall of 4279mm. It is a place which depicts the "Wet Tropics", surrounded by lush rainforest.
Babinda derived its name from the indigenous word "binda", which means "waterfall", although other sources claim the word means "mountain". Either way, Babinda has both. With Queensland's highest peak Bartle Frere and World Heritage listed Bellenden Ker range nearby, there are many recreational places for bushwalking, or a swim and picnic on a humid, tropical day.
The annual Harvest Festival is held in June, a celebration of cane harvesting in the area since the pioneering industry began during the 1880's. The opening of the North Coast railway line and the construction of the Babinda Mill in the early 1900's provided the town with increased population. While the Mill no longer stands, mostly due to cyclones Larry and Yasi, Babinda continues as a typical North Queensland sugar town.
There are some lovely historic buildings along the main street, as in the Babinda State hotel, hospital, movie theatre and air raid shelter. For example, the hotel began its life as the only government-owned hotel and boasts one of the longest bars in Queensland, built with beautiful local timbers. The community has also long been proud of their sports people, artists, and never-ending brigade of those who volunteer.
To add to this special part of North Queensland are Bramston Beach, Frankland Islands, Eubenangee Swamp National Park, Russell River National Park, Josephine Falls, Wooroonooran National Park.
Edmonton
Edmonton lies 10kms south of Cairns. In 1881, Thomas Swallow (a biscuit manufacturer) was the first to plant sugar cane in the area, on land known as Hambledon plantation. The water park 'Sugarworld' is on the original site of Swallow's plantation. Swallow opened a sugar mill in 1883, sugar being taken by a horse-drawn tram to Swallow's Wharf at the top of Trinity Inlet. The mill was purchased in 1897 by the Mayor of Cairns and subsequently by CSR.
CSR subdivided the land for tenant cane growers. The Mann family were the first to take up land and have farmed in this district ever since. A tramway was built between Cairns and Gordonvale in 1897, with Hambledon Junction station at about half-way. The station name changed to Edmonton in 1914.
Blackfellow's Creek Primary School commenced 1887, when children from as far away as Nelson (Gordonvale) attended. The school was moved 1910 to the site where Hambledon primary school is today. The Hambledon Hotel opened about the same time and still stands to this day, surrounded by the small township of Edmonton.
Due to the urban sprawl from Cairns during the 1970s-1980s, Hambledon Mill ceased operation. This sprawl continues with added shopping centres and suburbs joining Edmonton with Cairns, along the Bruce Highway.
The Northern Beaches and Suburbs
Smithfield is one of the earliest named localities in the Cairns region, at the end of Redford Road, Caravonica. From 1876, the Hodgkinson goldfield was supplied from Port Douglas, until William Smith cut a track to Cairns. Smithfield became the landing place on the Barron River but due to constant flooding during the Wet season the township was eventually abandoned. The name Smithfield persists as a suburb on the Cook Highway, near the Kuranda turnoff.
The beach suburbs evolved mostly as locals sought out weekend holiday retreats from Cairns and today, span the coast north some 20 kilometres in distance.
Machans Beach's first resident was a widower who transported visitors to and from the beach in an old Model T Ford. He also built a jetty for the tourist boats. During WWII the area was occupied by the Army but afterward reverted to a small beach suburb of Cairns.
Holloways Beach was named after a local landowner, William Holloway, who came to Cairns in about 1910.
Yorkey's Knob was named after a Yorkshireman (George Lawson aka 'Yorkey') who had been an early beche-de-mer fisherman and took up a farming block in 1886. In 1920 much of Yorkey's Knob was acquired by William Varley who subdivided it into residential allotments.
Trinity Beach was probably named after Captain Cook's Trinity Bay. The beachfront Vasey Parade is named after Major General George Vasey, a hero of the New Guinea campaigns who was killed in a plane crash off Trinity Beach in 1948.
Clifton Beach was originally a site accessed from a cane farmer's property - it was named after the birthplace of farmer Fairweather's wife, Clifton on the Darling Downs.
Palm Cove is between the headland Buchan Point and Clifton Beach. In the late nineteenth century it was a palm tree plantation. The beach became known as Palm Beach but was renamed Palm Cove in 1980. In 1958 the first of resort-style accommodation was opened, followed by caravan parks near the jetty and in Vievers Road.
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