Cooks Monument and Reserve

Cooks Monument and Reserve
Cooks Monument and Reserve
	Cooks Monument and Reserve, 2010
Location	Charlotte Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates	15°27′48″S145°15′00″E / 15.4634°S 145.2499°E Coordinates: 15°27′48″S145°15′00″E / 15.4634°S 145.2499°E
Design period	1870s - 1890s (late 19th century)
Built	1887 - 1989
Architect	Office of the Queensland Colonial Architect
Queensland Heritage Register
	Official name: Cooks Monument and Reserve
Type	state heritage (built, landscape)
Designated	30 April 1997
Reference no.	601044
Significant period	1887- (social ,fabric); 1887, 1948,1989 (historical)
Significant components	memorial/monument, sign, plaque, memorial - cairn, park / green space, cannon, well, trees/plantings, memorial - fountain
Builders	Hobbs and Carter
	Location of Cooks Monument and Reserve in Queensland Cooks Monument and Reserve (Australia)

Last updated March 21, 2019

Cooks Monument and Reserve is a heritage-listed memorial at Charlotte Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. It was designed in the office of the Queensland Colonial Architect and built by Hobbs and Carter in 1887. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 30 April 1997.^[1]

A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for the memory of something, usually a deceased person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains and parks.

Cooktown, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Cooktown is a town and locality in the Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. Cooktown is located about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) north of Brisbane and 328 kilometres (204 mi) north of Cairns, by road. Cooktown is about 857 kilometres (533 mi) south of Cape York by road. At the time of the 2016 census, Cooktown had a population of 2,631.

The Shire of Cook is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia. The Shire covers most of the eastern and central parts of Cape York Peninsula, the most northerly section of the Australian mainland.

History

The Cook Monument at Cooktown was erected in 1887 by Hobbs and Carter of South Brisbane, to designs prepared in the office of the Queensland Colonial Architect, George St Paul Connolly.^[1]

South Brisbane is an inner city suburb of Brisbane, Australia on the southern bank of the Brisbane River, directly connected to the central business district by the Kurilpa, Victoria and Goodwill bridges. Its population was estimated to be 7,196 at the 2016 Australian Census.

Cooktown had been established in September 1873 as the Endeavour River port for the Palmer River goldfields. By the mid-1880s it was serving one of the most significant goldfields in Queensland. A railway was constructed from Cooktown to Laura between 1884 and 1888, further opening the port to development. By the late 1880s Cooktown had become the important centre not only of a thriving mining district (boosted by the 1887 discovery of tin along the Annan River), but also of pearling, beche-de-mer, and pastoral activity. After 1885, Cooktown was also the main port for Queensland trade with New Guinea.^[1]

The Endeavour River, inclusive of the Endeavour River Right Branch, the Endeavour River South Branch, and the Endeavour River North Branch, is a river system located on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, Australia.

The Palmer River is a river located in Far North Queensland, Australia. The area surrounding the river was the site of a gold rush in the late 19th century which started in 1873.

Laura is a small town and locality in Cook Shire, Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, Australia. It is on the only road north towards the tip of the peninsula, and is the centre for the largest collection of prehistoric rock art in the world. It also forms the northern apex of the "Scenic Triangle" between Cooktown, Lakeland, and Laura. In the 2011 census, Laura had a population of 80 people.

In May 1886, the then Premier of Queensland, Sir Samuel Walker Griffith, travelled to Cooktown and other northern ports on a tour of inspection, partly associated with defence issues, more with political strategy. The Separation movement was gaining momentum in Townsville and the far north, and Griffith was keen to demonstrate his government's commitment to, and concern for, northern Queensland. The Cooktown Municipal Council at this time was seeking to commemorate James Cook's encampment at the Endeavour River in the winter of 1770, and it appears that Griffith, as political expediency, committed the Colonial Architect's office to designing the Cook monument at Cooktown.^[1]

The Premier of Queensland is the head of government in the Australian state of Queensland.

Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a population of 173,815 as of the 2016 Australian census. Considered the unofficial capital of North Queensland by locals, Townsville hosts a significant number of governmental, community and major business administrative offices for the northern half of the state. It is in the dry tropics region of Queensland, adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef. The city is also a major industrial centre, home to one of the worlds largest zinc refineries, a nickel refinery and many other similar activities. The Port of Townsville is also being expanded to allow much larger cargo ships from Asia and the world's largest passenger ships to visit. It is an increasingly important port due to its proximity to Asia and major trading partners such as China.

James Cook 18th-century British explorer

Captain James Cook was a British explorer, navigator, cartographer, and captain in the Royal Navy. He made detailed maps of Newfoundland prior to making three voyages to the Pacific Ocean, during which he achieved the first recorded European contact with the eastern coastline of Australia and the Hawaiian Islands, and the first recorded circumnavigation of New Zealand.

The Cooktown Municipal Council had intended that the monument include a statue of James Cook, but when tenders were called in June 1886, then again in September 1886 and February 1887 with different materials specified, they were for the column only. In December 1887 Sir Samuel Griffith re-visited Cooktown, and when requested by the mayor to provide assistance in commissioning the statue, refused, stating that it was more important to commemorate the event than the person.^[1]

The contract had been let in February 1887 to Hobbs and Carter of South Brisbane, with a price of £ 1,059 and completion time of 8 months. It appears that the memorial was not constructed on the site originally proposed, which necessitated an additional foundation, bringing the final cost to £ 1,297. The foundation stone was laid on 1 September 1887 by the Mayor of Cooktown, John Savage, and the work had been completed by January 1888. Sandstone used in the construction came from Murphys Creek in southeast Queensland, and it was reputedly the first stone structure erected in Cooktown.^[1]

The Australian pound was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 14 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. As with other £sd currencies, it was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence.

Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments.

Murphys Creek is a town and locality in the Lockyer Valley Region, Queensland, Australia, located at the foot of the Great Dividing Range. The town's name is correctly spelled without an apostrophe.

Around the monument, a small (1.5 acres (0.61 ha)) reserve for municipal purposes was gazetted in June 1888. A brick-lined town well, believed to have been built by the Cooktown Municipal Council to service ships berthed at the nearby Cooktown wharves, was constructed in the reserve, south of the monument. This work probably was undertaken post-1888, as the Council filled in much of the Cook Monument Reserve in 1889. A small vertical boiler engine pumped water from the well to the wharves through a 3" diameter pipe. It is understood that the well has also supplied adjacent Charlotte Street businesses from time to time.^[1]

In the 20th century, several other memorials were erected within the reserve:^[1]

Kennedy Memorial: a granite cairn erected in 1948 to honour British explorer Edmund Besley Court Kennedy, who was killed by Aborigines on Cape York Peninsula (part of Cook Shire) in December 1848. Kennedy's exploratory work helped to open far north Queensland to pastoral settlement in the mid-19th century. The memorial was unveiled on 25 September 1948 by the Chair of the Cook Shire Council, Mayor WCH Hodges.^[1]
National Horse Trail Marker: a small granite cairn erected in August 1977 to mark the beginning of the National Horse Trail from Cooktown to Melbourne, and the epic ride of Dan Seymour, who in the early 1970s demonstrated the feasibility of such a trail. The trail was mapped between 1974 and the 1980s, when it was made a bi-centennial project. Sections are used regularly, but few people have ridden the full distance. The marker was erected by the Australian Trail Horse Riders' Association and was unveiled by Henry Tranter, President of the Tablelands Trail Horse Riders' Club.^[1]
Annan River Water Supply Memorial Fountain: in 1989 the old town well on the reserve was cleaned out and a fountain constructed over it to commemorate the inauguration in November 1989 of a new permanent water supply from the Annan River to Cooktown. The Annan River pipeline was a joint federal, state and local government project, replacing Cooktown's previous water supply from the bore fields on the southern outskirts of the town.^[1]
1803 Cannon: There is now located in the reserve a cannon cast in 1803 in Carron, Scotland, and bearing the royal monogram GR. During the height of the "Russian invasion" scare of 1885, the Cooktown Municipal Council telegraphed to the Premier of Queensland, requesting him to supply arms, ammunition and an officer to take charge of the Cooktown volunteer defence force. This cannon was sent, along with 3 cannonballs, 2 rifles and 1 officer. Initially the cannon was located on the foreshore near the Cooktown Powder Magazine on Webber Esplanade, overlooking the entrance to Cooktown Harbour on the Endeavour River estuary. It is fired once a year as part of the annual Cook's landing re-enactment celebrations.^[1]

Description

Cook's Monument is situated in a small reserve located between Charlotte Street and the Endeavour River estuary, on a slight rise adjacent to the site where James Cook beached the barque Endeavour for repairs in mid-1770. The reserve is grassed, with palms and mature trees around the perimeter.^[1]

The monument comprises a tall, slender sandstone column, topped with a detailed capital, which rises from a square pedestal resting upon a granite base and plinth. The steps of the plinth lead to a square dado incorporating drinking fountains on each side. These fountains were once linked to a regular water supply [possibly an internal tank], and the water outlets emerge from the mouths of sculpted animal heads. The dado is set beneath a modest entablature and the pediment is flanked by sandstone urns at each corner.^[1]

To the north of the Cook Monument is the 1803 cannon sent in 1885 to Cooktown by the Queensland colonial government, for the use of the local volunteer defence force. It stands on a concrete platform. Adjacent to the gun is an interpretative sign.^[1]

To the south of the Cook Monument, but within the same reserve, are three more recent memorials and the early town well:^[1]

Kennedy Memorial: a conical-shaped granite cairn, approximately 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in) high, resting on a concrete base, with an embossed brass plaque in the face addressing Charlotte Street.^[1]
National Horse Trail Marker: a simple granite cairn or marker approximately 0.5 metres (1 ft 8 in) high, conical in shape, with an embossed brass plaque in the face addressing Charlotte Street.^[1]
Annan River Water Supply Memorial Fountain and Early Town Well: The fountain comprises a series of metal water pipes constructed over an early, brick-lined town well. The well has a diameter of 23 feet (7.0 m) at ground level, from which the shaft is bricked down 16 feet (4.9 m) to a 4-foot-6-inch (1.37 m) wide ledge, after which it narrows to 14-foot (4.3 m) diameter, and is bricked down a further 8 feet 4 inches (2.54 m), at the bottom of which are granite slabs. In the wall of the upper shaft are two arched entrances, now filled in with rubble, leading to underground spider channels or aqueducts which formerly fed the well with storm water run-off, in addition to the ground water from below. Formerly there were three cross-logs let into the walls near the top, for roof joist supports. Adjacent to the well was a tank stand with engine and boiler beneath. Water was pumped form the well to the tank, then from the tank to the wharves via a galvanised pipe along the foreshore. .Above the bricks are several courses of cement blocks [added at a later date], topped by a metal railing added in 1989 as part of the conversion to a fountain. The capacity of the well is approximately 47,000 imperial gallons (210,000 l; 56,000 US gal).^[1]

Heritage listing

Cooks Monument and Reserve was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 30 April 1997 having satisfied the following criteria.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.

Cook's Monument and Reserve is significant historically for its commemoration of Cook's encampment below Grassy Hill, at the mouth of the Endeavour River, in mid-1770 - the first official British sojourn on the east coast of Australia. The place is significant also as Queensland's earliest memorial to James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour, and illustrates Cooktown's early developed sense of historical importance.^[1]

The site contains an early brick-lined town well, which is important in illustrating the establishment of municipal services in early Cooktown.^[1]

The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places.

The monument is a fine example of its type and one of the finest sandstone public memorials in Queensland. It is also an excellent example of the work of the Queensland colonial architect's office under George St Paul Connolly.^[1]

The place is important because of its aesthetic significance.

Its aesthetic setting within a grassy, treed reserve contributes significantly to the townscape of Cooktown, and from the Endeavour River estuary is a Cooktown landmark.^[1]

The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

The place has a special association for the people of Cooktown with their sense of historical identity. A number of other memorials have been placed in the reserve, illustrating this continued association.^[1]

Related Research Articles

The Annan River is a river located in the Wet Tropics of Far North Queensland, Australia.

Grassy Hill Light, also known as Cooktown Light, is an active lighthouse located on Grassy Hill above Cooktown, Queensland, Australia, on the south side of the entrance to Endeavour River.

Mooney Memorial Fountain is a heritage-listed memorial at 118 Eagle Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by William Holloway Chambers and built from 1878 to 1880 by William Webster. It is also known as Eagle Street Fountain. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

James Sangster Memorial is a heritage-listed memorial at Browns Park, Downs Street, North Ipswich, City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. The memorial was erected to commemorate the heroism of police constable James Sangster who drowned attempting to save two people. It was designed and built in 1898 by C Wilson & Co. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 18 September 2008.

The Esk River is a river located in the Wet Tropics of Far North Queensland, Australia.

Captain Cook's Landing Place is a heritage-listed site at Seventeen Seventy, Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia. It is so named because Captain Cook landed there on 24 May 1770. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 March 1996.

FDA Carstens Memorial is a heritage-listed memorial at Macrossan Street, Port Douglas, Shire of Douglas, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1907 to 1908 by Melrose & Fenwick (Townsville). It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 9 September 2003.

Annan River Bridge is a heritage-listed road bridge over the Annan River at Development Road, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by John Henry Daniells and built from 1886 to 1889 by George Herbert Royce & Co. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Mary Watson's Monument is a heritage-listed memorial at Charlotte Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. It was designed and built by Ernest Greenway in 1886. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Cook Shire Council Chambers is a heritage-listed former town hall and now museum at 121 Charlotte Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1876 to 1877 by Henry J Meldrum and John Sullivan. It was also known as Cooktown Post and Telegraph Office and is now known as Cooktown History Centre. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 8 April 1997.

Cooktown Cemetery is a heritage-listed cemetery at Charlotte Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1874 to 1920. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 8 April 1997.

Old Cooktown Hospital is a heritage-listed former public hospital and now Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall at May Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built from 1879 to c. 1881 by Alfred Doorey & Son. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Cooktown Powder Magazine is a heritage-listed gunpowder magazine at Webber Esplanade, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built from 1875 to 1876 by Henry J Meldrum. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Early Granite Kerbing and Channelling, Cooktown is a heritage-listed set of rainwater management structures at Adelaide, Charlotte, Furneaux, Green, Helen, Hogg, Hope and Walker Streets and Webber Esplanade, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1884 to 1905 by Thomas Pascoe. It is also known as Early Granite Kerbing and Channelling. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 8 April 1997.

Seagren's Building is a heritage-listed workshop at 124 Charlotte Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1880s to c. 1900. It is also known as Motor Inn Motel and Seagren's Inn. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Ferrari Estates Building is a heritage-listed former bank building at 126 Charlotte Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Eyre & Munro and built from 1890 to 1891 by John Armstrong. It is also known as Bank of North Queensland. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

James Cook Historical Museum is a heritage-listed former convent and school and now museum at Furneaux Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built from 1888 to 1889 Hobbs & Carter. It was formerly known as St Mary's Convent and School. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Gallop Botanic Reserve, incorporating Cooktown Botanic Gardens, is a heritage-listed botanic garden at Finch Bay Road, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1878 to 1980s. It is also known as Cooktown Botanic Gardens & Recreation Reserve and Queens' Park Gardens & Recreation Reserve. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 13 October 1997.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 "Cooks Monument and Reserve (entry 601044)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article was originally based on "The Queensland heritage register" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 7 July 2014, archived on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the "Queensland heritage register boundaries" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 5 September 2014, archived on 15 October 2014).

External links

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[qhr-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 "Cooks Monument and Reserve (entry 601044)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.