Far North Queensland – Moreton Bay and More

The early days of Cooktown, in colour.

In 1770, the Endeavour, captained by James Cook, spent time in a harbour on the northern east coast of New Holland, undergoing repairs. The vessel was moored to a tree at that place, and that tree was still in situ when a settlement arose a century later. In January 1874, Mr Macmillan, the Government SurveyorContinue reading “The early days of Cooktown, in colour.”

The Wild Scotchman’s Life after Crime

James Alpin McPherson’s criminal career came to an end at Gin Gin on 30 March 1866, when a group of local men recognised him and arranged an impromptu posse. They had the advantage of being better horsemen and shots than the police. The Maryborough Chronicle described his capture: “A man answering to his description hadContinue reading “The Wild Scotchman’s Life after Crime”

Mug Shots: The Miner from New Orleans

William Warren was born in New Orleans in 1830 and arrived in Australia in 1853 aboard a ship (also) called the New Orleans. While his family and past friends experienced the war between the States, William was in Northern Queensland, eking out a living as a miner, occasionally coming to the attention of theContinue reading “Mug Shots: The Miner from New Orleans”