The following report from the Brisbane Courier, of Governor Sir George Bowen's trip to North Queensland in 1865, makes for interesting reading:
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| Queensland's first Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen. Photo: State Library of Queensland. |
His
Excellency embarked at the Queen's Wharf, Brisbane, on the afternoon of the 23rd
September, and immediately started on his journey. Next day the Platypus crossed
the Wide Bay bar, and at the mouth of the Mary River stopped for a short time to
take onboard Messrs. Bramston and Douglas from the Leichhardt steamer, which
was then lying at anchor in consequence of an accident having occurred to her machinery.
The Platypus arrived at Keppel Bay on the 25th, and the party went ashore and
inspected the pilot station. At five o'clock next evening she ran alongside the
Rockhampton wharf, where his Excellency and party disembarked. Nothing of
interest occurred during this part of the voyage. There was a detention at
Rockhampton for seven days owing to festivities connected with the important
ceremony of inaugurating the Northern Railway.
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| The ship Platypus. Photo: State Library of Queensland. |
The voyage was resumed on Monday
the 2nd instant. After threading her way through the tortuous channels between
the numerous and picturesque islands along this portion of the coast, the
Platypus touched at Port Denison, to land the English mails she had brought on
from Rockhampton. On leaving the bay she passed between Gloucester Island and
the mainland. This channel is not usually employed by vessels, but in the opinion
of the port-master (Lieutenant Heath) it is perfectly safe, an is serviceable
at highwater for steamers.
On the afternoon of the 6th, the party were landed at
Cardwell, Rockingham Bay, which was the limit of the trip. His Excellency
was enthusiastically received by the inhabitants of the town, and he held a leave
there. Cardwell is, properly speaking, situated on the shores of Port
Hinchinbrook, and sheltered by Hinchinbrook Island, which is three miles from the
mainland, and twenty-three miles in length. The scenery is of a most romantic
character, both on the mainland and the island. The country is broken and
mountainous, and attains a considerable elevation.
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| View of Cardwell, North Queensland, c. 1885. Photo: State Library of Queensland. |
On Hinchinbrook Island the
highest peak is 4000 feet above the level of the sea, and is covered
with vegetation almost to the top: The island itself is thickly timbered. The
climate is pleasant and cool, and the south-east trades are more regular
at Cardwell than to the southward. The harbour is described
as one of the most magnificent on the eastern seaboard. It has one drawback - the shallowness of water
along the shore, which prevents vessels from landing
cargo on the beach; but in a great measure this difficulty is
lessened by the softness of the bottom. Small vessels can be beached on a mud
flat close inshore, without incurring any danger. The bar is very easy of
access, the depth of water is sufficient for large vessels and the anchorage is
first-rate. The trade at this port is small at present, on account of the very
indifferent means of communication between Cardwell and the back country.
During his Excellency's stay a party were out endeavouring to find a better road
than the present one, which is difficult to traverse owing to the number and
steepness of the "pinches."
The Platypus only remained one
night at Cardwell. On the morning of the 7th the party went on to Brook Island,
which lies about fifteen miles to the eastward of the port. Here the Platypus
anchored, and his Excellency and party went ashore for a day's shooting. The
sport was excellent - eighty-two birds falling to three guns. The birds were all
black and white Torres Straits pigeons, and afforded dainty food to the
company
for some days. At midnight the anchor was weighed, and the Platypus commenced
her return journey. She passed through the Palm Islands, and as the weather was
very squally, anchored for a short time under the shelter of the largest of
the group.
On the morning of the 8th she arrived at Cleveland Bay, entering
by the channel between Magnetic Island and Cape Many Peaks. Townsville, the name of the town, is
situated on the bank of a small stream. Nothing of importance occurred at
the time of the visit, but it is evident that the town has made considerable
progress for its age. Though it is very little more than twelve months since the first drays arrived from the interior, there are now upwards of 200
inhabitants in Townsville.
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| John Melton Black's house on Melton Hill, Townsville, c. 1865. Photo: State Library of Queensland. |
The site of the town is good, excepting a portion of which lies very low. There
is a scarcity of fresh water in the neighbourhood, but at a creek some two or
three miles distant there is always plenty in ordinary season. In consequence
of the long drought, the lagoons were nearly dried
up. Water is something obtained from wells sunk
near
the beach. The port is a convenient place for small coasting craft, which can
lie alongside a steep bank in the creek. Large vessels can find a safe
anchorage in the open bay. At low tide there is only eighteen inches of
water on the bar at the mouth of the creek, but the rise and fall of the tide is ten feet, with eleven feet at spring tides.
His Excellency remained on shore all night, and on the following morning the
Platypus got under-way for Port Denison.
