Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Latest covid19 impacts qld national parks, state forests and recreation. Discover the history of townsville and the north queensland region. Twenty kilometres north of maytown is the largest intact flagstone floor on the field. Embly in 1885, their accompanying map of maytown and environs. We have a great range of local history guides for areas in and around brisbane as. This map was part of the series drawn of the palmer river by surveyors w. This massacre took place at cullinlaringo, not far from the present township of springsure on the afternoon of the 17 th october 1861, and was probably the worst in the history of the pioneers of queensland. See maytown photos and images from satellite below, explore the aerial photographs of maytown in australia. The town of maytown was once the capital of the palmer river goldfield and was at its most prominent and populous in the late 1870s. The palmer river goldfield four deep mines at maytown is listed on the australian heritage register. Gold mines and mining queensland palmer river region history.
Exploring the palmer river goldfields of far north queensland. Tributeqatb, photo historythe men and women officers public. Maytown destination guide queensland, australia trip. Vol 9 in the north queensland deserted towns series contains an immigrants description of early bowen and the establishment of townsville. Search the catalogue for collection items held by the national library of australia new search eresources user lists feedback help collection delivery times visitor update. Maytown township was listed on the queensland heritage register on 1 june 2004 having satisfied the following criteria. It takes the reader through the tumultuous frontier and federation years, the world wars, the cold war, the. Originally named edwardstown, the town was settled in the early 1870s. The first discovery of tin on the herberton field, was made by john atherton in 1879 during a journey from the upper herbert river to his new station at emerald end, mareeba. Nov 07, 2005 maytown queensland place chineseaustralian historical images in australia, this is a catalogue of historical images of chinese held in australia from a range of publications, public and private collections. The oral tradition of aboriginal people, passed down through myths and legends of the dreaming, tells us that they lived in what we now know as queensland for many thousands of. If travelling from the north, follow the old maytownlaura road old coach road until you cross the. Historical timeline about queensland and its government. The excellent graded 79km road out to the peninsula development rd is an easy run with a few steep sections, and the palmer river roadhouse is only 17km north of its exit on the pdr.
We have a great range of local history guides for areas in and around brisbane as well as books on queenslands heritage. Frank dempsey, old mining towns of north queensland, adelaide, rigby, 1980 hector holthouse, river of gold. Ah toys garden australasian society for historical archaeology. Maytown began as an rough bush camp for the original gold miners. Despite being built with bridges wide enough for standard gauge. History kuku yalanji also known as gugu yalanji, kuku yalaja, and kuku yelandji is an australian aboriginal language of the mossman and daintree areas of north queensland. Maytown began as an rough bush camp for the original gold miners but rapidly grew with the influx of large numbers of miners.
Queenslands history1800s 1899 the queensland parliament passes the federation enabling act, paving the way for queensland to join the proposed federation of the australian colonies. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Queensland history it is difficult to know precisely when the aboriginal people first arrived in queensland. The palmer river which flows through the locality from east to west. About three quarters of the way to jowalbinna you cross the little laura river, which is a shallow, rockybottomed ford. The twists and turns of queensland history during its first 100 years as an australian state. The palmer river goldfields resource reserve is the eastern part of the locality to the north of the river history. Maytown ruins if you really want to understand the nature of the palmer river goldrush there is a difficult road to the maytown ruins which are located 90 km to the west of the palmer river roadhouse. It encompasses precontact aboriginal history, the years of convictism, free settlement and subsequent urban and rural growth. Queenslands railway construction commenced in 1864, with the turning of the first sod of the main line by lady diamantina bowen, the wife of queenslands first governor sir george bowen at ipswich, queensland, australia. Queensland history state library of queensland shop.
Embly in 1885, their accompanying map of maytown and environs showed the presence of. The pavers still exist from the main street of maytown you can just imagine a bustling little gold town. It also contains information to contextualize the images with bibliographic references to assist further research. Access is possible from the north via the very rough old maytownlaura road old coach road from laura. Queensland places maytown state library of queensland. Queensland year book national library of australia. Maytown, australia current weather report, maytown, australia, queensland, australia hour by hour 10 day weather forecast, historical weather, weather animated map, holiday weather forecast and more. Enjoy basic camping at the north palmer river camping areaa remote and undeveloped bush camp on the north palmer river. A narrow gauge of 3 ft 6 in 1,067 mm was selected due to cost savings in providing a rail link to toowoomba. Remnants of a golden era palmer river goldfield 1986. Laura to maytown coach, 1895, john oxley library, state library of queensland neg 31701 this photograph, taken in 1895, shows the mail coach at an unidentified location along the laura maytown road, but probably outside one of the staging posts along the way. Photo the new aerial ambulance cessna 310 taking off from georgetown in the early 60s.
Discover the colourful history of the gold rush days protected in. The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of queenslands history. White, this map unfolds from pocket size to a large map made up of. Mari yaamba aboriginal mission on the andromanche river at proserpine, mackays early sugar mills, blackbirding, mining at paluma, the shrimp battery story, mining lease applications, as well as the governors visit to ingham. Palmer gold field, maytown and environs, 1885 queensland. Journal of an overland expedition in australia from moreton bay to port essington a distance of upward of 3 000 miles during the years 18441845.
Listing of the cemeteries around the mackay region with links to monumental inscriptions and location and maps. Hanns note book, especially when compared with the entry in his. Queenslands history1800s the foundation of queensland as a penal settlement, its separation from new south wales, and its development in the years before federation. Maytown weather forecast, queensland, australia 10 day. Qatb airgaueb, bristol freighter aeroplane, which was used as an ambulance, ca. The reality of what a harsh land this can be for little gold reward.
Maytown was founded beyond the pastoral frontier and became the principal settlement on the palmer goldfield, and was critical in supporting. History of queenslands roads department of transport and. Originally discovered by william hann but he dismissed it as too small. We signed the visitor information book and noted a few. White, this map unfolds from pocket size to a large map made up of 48 sections. Made up of 30 panels, the map folds down to neatly fit in the pocket. The real historical treasure here is the bulky 19 th century mining machinery from many costly and wretched attempts at reef mining.
The campsite itself is a basic parking area, but what it lacks in facilities it makes up for in. There are lots of photos in this post, as they say a picture paints a thousand words, its the best way to show the road conditions. The first 32km of the track is easy going until you get to the jowalbinna turnoff. Queensland places laura to maytown coach road state. Roads to riches by lyall ford recounting the development of the road network in the mackay district 1855 to the 1970s, this publication includes the history of the department of transport and main roads within the district. About palmer goldfield queensland parks and wildlife. The owners of the roadhouse are really helpful and will offer advice and guidance. Staff at the palmer river roadhouse can provide the latest information on access from the mulligan highway.
The table shows the distances and bearings of roads and rivers across the goldfields. Then james venture mulligan found very payable gold 103 oz in a week then the rush was on. In 1900, the town had a population of 674, nearly two thirds of whom were chinese gold miners. History of mackay during the second world war from 19391945. The campsite itself is a basic parking area, but what it lacks in facilities it makes up for in serenity and a beautiful billabong teeming with birdlife. Maytown township is significant as the major settlement on the palmer goldfield. The little visitors shack at maytown where you can read a little history and sign the visitor book not too many signatures in there. Today, only traces remain of buildings and the extensive alluvial mining that produced so much gold in the early days. About palmer goldfield department of environment and science. Maytown established 1874 as edwardstown, now an abandoned settlement is important in demonstrating the evolution and pattern of queensland s history, particularly the development of north queensland.
Maytown environment, land and water queensland government. Mar 01, 2016 the little visitors shack at maytown where you can read a little history and sign the visitor book not too many signatures in there. Maytown queensland place chineseaustralian historical images in australia this is a catalogue of historical images of chinese held in australia from a range of publications, public and private collections. At the time cullinlaringo was a new station just taken up by the wills family, huts had been built, and about 10,000 sheep introduced. Maytown hotels map is available on the target page linked above. In 1882 the australian handbook recorded four hotels, stores, a police barracks, two butchers and a blacksmith. Settlement patterns of the germanqueensland communities. Covid19 ask a librarian due to the need to contain the spread of coronavirus covid19 the library building and reading rooms are closed to visitors until further notice.
The name alone conjures up images of rough men isolated in an even rougher environment seeking their fortunes far from home often only to find deprivation, misery and sometimes cruel and violent deaths. From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia maytown was the main township on the palmer river goldfields in far north queensland, australia. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Thi 1s5 by 17 metre house floor is all that remains of the folders staging post which is situated at the base of the original range descent of the laura to maytown coach road. Palmer goldfield resources reserve camping information. This precipitous descent has recently been reopened by the palmer river. This track is an epic journey, reminiscent of what more of the roads up here were like for a long time, and a time capsule in its own right. The chinese on the palmer river goldfield ofnorth queensland from the 1870s onwards were involved in market. A history of queensland is the first single volume analysis of queenslands past, stretching from the time of earliest human habitation up to the present. However, in acknowledgement of maytowns importance in the history of queensland, these remnants are listed on the queensland heritage register.
Cumberland mine site is an area rich with mining history and great scenery. Visitors can walk, with care, around the old reef mining sites and see relatively intact boilers, steam engines, stamp mills and pumps. Maytown queensland place chineseaustralian historical. Notes folder of loose sheets containing history of the palmer goldfield and surrounds, maps, newsletters 198286. This map shows the palmer river goldfield extending from gold diggings west into pastoral stations. This means they are not accessible for normal recreation purposes, but more for protection of biodiversity and natural habitat. The real historical treasure here is the bulky 19 th century mining machinery from many costly and wretched attempts at reef.
The palmer river resources reserve, which includes many historic relics such as the maytown site, is managed by qpws rangers based in chillagoe 07 4094 7163. It is now a ghost town within locality of palmer in the shire. Maytown destination guide queensland, australia tripsuggest. It incorporates the history of the department of transport and main roads in far north queensland from 1920 to 1963. An outbreak of plague is suspected, and the queensland government sends dr alfred jefferis turner small, refined and immaculately dressed to assess the situation. Palmer goldfield resources reserve about palmer goldfield. Maytown was the admin of the palmer river gold rush which started in 1873. In the 1800s for a short period, australias palmer river goldfields were home to perhaps 35,000 people from all over the globe. Byerstown, 75 km east of palmerville, occupied an elevated and healthy site on the palmer river. Posted on august 6, 20 december 19, 20 by lets go travel australia 68 now the fun starts.
Discover the colourful history of the gold rush days protected in palmer goldfield resources reserve. Kuku yalanji also known as gugu yalanji, kuku yalaja, and kuku yelandji is an australian aboriginal language of the mossman and daintree areas of north queensland. Maytown close park is categorised as a bushlandconservation area. Queensland history would you like to find out more about the history of your suburb or city.
Founded beyond the frontier of pastoral occupation, it became an important centre for administration, communications and cultural contact with local aboriginal people and chinese miners. It takes the reader through the tumultuous frontier and. Aug 07, 20 78 there is a lot of history in maytown. The language region includes areas within the local government area of shire of douglas and shire of cook, particularly the localities of mossman, daintree, bloomfield. Described as the emporium for the palmer goldfield, it was estimated that threequarters of goods consumed passed through byerstown. Mackay history north queensland research and links. The oral tradition of aboriginal people, passed down through myths and legends of the dreaming, tells us that they lived in what we now know as queensland for many thousands of years prior to european settlement. Today, little remains from maytowns glory days, with the only physical remnants being the remains of the bakers oven, some stone kerbing and channelling as well as the town cemetery. At the junction of the shepherd creek with the little laura river, the road deteriorates into a very rough track until maytown. To his credit the book is entertaining, easy to read and informative. Maytown was the main settlement on the palmer river goldfields in far north queensland. As he traversed the country where herberton now stands, tin was noticed in one of the creeks. This place is situated in cook, queensland, australia, its geographical coordinates are 16 3 0 south, 144 17 0 east and its original name with diacritics is maytown. This is the first history of queensland to be written since the early 1980s and is the only succinct general volume on the market.
River, laura and maytown, and the palmer river and hodgkinson goldfields. Not just the mining past but the lives, shattered hopes and dreams of the people that lived here. Bushlandconservation areas are generally unembellished and are protected under the nature conservation act 1992. Unlike south australia that had a large immigration episode in the mid 1800s from the silesian province of germany, the situation in queensland is more complex in terms of immigration from the provinces of germany and eventual settlement patterns. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study.