Mission Beach in its regional historical context
The first white settlement north of Bowen was on Rockingham Bay. Port Hinchinbrook, later renamed Cardwell, was settled in January 1864 and this became the gateway for settlers to the region for a number of years. Cardwell was settled as a result of the need for a port outlet to serve the rich pastoral areas west of the Ranges, in particular, the Valley of Lagoons. In January 1864 a small party of 20 men landed at Rockingham Bay and within days they set up camp, surveyed off the first streets and began work on clearing a track over the range. This track to the south of Cardwell, now known as Dalrymple Track, still includes the oldest engineering structure in North Queensland, the stone-pitched bridge at Damper Creek.
The new port at Cardwell was named after Rt. Hon Edward Cardwell MP, later Viscount Cardwell. The port served the pastoral areas, the early Herbert River settlers and also the arrival of many hopeful gold-seekers. Large quantities of supplies, men and gold passed through Cardwell during the years that it was the closest port to the goldfields, such as the Etheridge.
However, this port proved limited by off-shore shallows which caused even small ships to have to anchor two miles out, and the tracks to the inland had to pass over steep, rainforested ranges. It was not long before Townsville (founded late in 1864) surpassed Cardwell as a port of entry and regional centre. Cairns, Ingham and Geraldton (Innisfail) also developed and Cardwell was left behind.
The district now known as Mission Beach is located on the coast north of Cardwell and was originally part of the Cardwell Division local government area constituted in 1884. This division included the area from the Hinchinbrook Channel in the south to Double Point near Mourilyan Harbour in the north. Later the boundaries were changed and the northern section of "Mission Beach" became part of the Johnstone Shire in February 1937.
However, although the beaches were included on maps, generally known as the "Clump Point" region, opening up for selection and actual settlement was slow in developing. The coastal floodplains of the Murray, Tully and Hull Rivers which discharge into Rockingham Bay are wetlands subject to extensive flooding in the wet season. Mangroves fringe the coast and movement in the area was very difficult for the first white settlers. It was not until the 1880's that the first settlers became established.
Aboriginal Heritage
The Dyiru-speaking Aboriginal people who inhabited this island coast were linguistically, culturally and socially related to the Dyirbal, Girramay and Gulngay groups of the Tully and Murray River districts. Hunters, fishers and gatherers of the rainforests and coast, they utilised the rich plant and animal resources to provide their needs. They excelled in making and using canoes and rafts and were expert fishermen of both fresh and marine waters.
Contact with early navigators and coastal surveyors as well as with beche-de-mer fishing boats was established long before the first white people settled the beach areas in 1882. Timber-getters also camped on the beaches during their cutting expeditions and occasionally utilised Aboriginal labour in return for tobacco or tools.
The new port at Cardwell was named after Rt. Hon Edward Cardwell MP, later Viscount Cardwell. The port served the pastoral areas, the early Herbert River settlers and also the arrival of many hopeful gold-seekers. Large quantities of supplies, men and gold passed through Cardwell during the years that it was the closest port to the goldfields, such as the Etheridge.
However, this port proved limited by off-shore shallows which caused even small ships to have to anchor two miles out, and the tracks to the inland had to pass over steep, rainforested ranges. It was not long before Townsville (founded late in 1864) surpassed Cardwell as a port of entry and regional centre. Cairns, Ingham and Geraldton (Innisfail) also developed and Cardwell was left behind.
The district now known as Mission Beach is located on the coast north of Cardwell and was originally part of the Cardwell Division local government area constituted in 1884. This division included the area from the Hinchinbrook Channel in the south to Double Point near Mourilyan Harbour in the north. Later the boundaries were changed and the northern section of "Mission Beach" became part of the Johnstone Shire in February 1937.
However, although the beaches were included on maps, generally known as the "Clump Point" region, opening up for selection and actual settlement was slow in developing. The coastal floodplains of the Murray, Tully and Hull Rivers which discharge into Rockingham Bay are wetlands subject to extensive flooding in the wet season. Mangroves fringe the coast and movement in the area was very difficult for the first white settlers. It was not until the 1880's that the first settlers became established.
Aboriginal Heritage
The Dyiru-speaking Aboriginal people who inhabited this island coast were linguistically, culturally and socially related to the Dyirbal, Girramay and Gulngay groups of the Tully and Murray River districts. Hunters, fishers and gatherers of the rainforests and coast, they utilised the rich plant and animal resources to provide their needs. They excelled in making and using canoes and rafts and were expert fishermen of both fresh and marine waters.
Contact with early navigators and coastal surveyors as well as with beche-de-mer fishing boats was established long before the first white people settled the beach areas in 1882. Timber-getters also camped on the beaches during their cutting expeditions and occasionally utilised Aboriginal labour in return for tobacco or tools.
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