Port Douglas

Port Douglas
Queensland
Four Mile Beach
Port Douglas
Coordinates 16°29′01″S 145°27′55″E / 16.48361°S 145.46528°E / -16.48361; 145.46528Coordinates: 16°29′01″S 145°27′55″E / 16.48361°S 145.46528°E / -16.48361; 145.46528
Population 3,504 (2016 census)[1]
Established 1877
Postcode(s) 4877
Elevation 4 m (13 ft)
Location
LGA(s) Shire of Douglas
County Solander
State electorate(s) Cook
Federal Division(s) Leichhardt
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
27.9 °C
82 °F		 20.6 °C
69 °F		 2,032.4 mm
80 in
Localities around Port Douglas:
Bonnie Doon Coral Sea Coral Sea
Killaloe Port Douglas Coral Sea
Craiglie Craiglie Craiglie

Port Douglas is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia, approximately 70 km (40 mi) north of Cairns. In the 2016 census, Port Douglas had a population of 3,504 people.[1] The town's population can often double, however, with the influx of tourists during the peak tourism season from May to September. The town is named in honour of a former Premier of Queensland, John Douglas. Port Douglas developed quickly based on the mining industry. Other parts of the area were established with timber cutting occurring in the area surrounding the Daintree River and with settlement starting to occur on lots around the Mossman River by 1880.

Previous names for the town included Terrigal, Island Point, Port Owen and Salisbury. The town is situated adjacent to two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.

Port Douglas was No. 3 on Australian Traveller magazine's list of 100 Best Towns In Australia.[2]

Government

The town is within the federal electorate of Leichhardt, and within the state electorate of Cook. At the local level, it is in the local government area of Shire of Douglas (between 2008 and 2013, it was within the Cairns Region).

History

Port Douglas War Memorial, 2006
Beach in Port Douglas

The Port Douglas township was established in 1877 after the discovery of gold at Hodgkinson River by James Venture Mulligan. Port Douglas Post Office opened on 1 September 1877.[3] It grew quickly, and at its peak Port Douglas had a population of 12,000 and 27 hotels. With the construction of the Mulligan Highway it serviced towns as far away as Herberton.

When the Kuranda Railway from Cairns to Kuranda was completed in 1891, the importance of Port Douglas dwindled along with its population. A cyclone in 1911 which demolished all but two buildings in the town also had a significant impact.[4] At its nadir in 1960 the town, by then little more than a fishing village, had a population of 100.

The Port Douglas War Memorial was unveiled on 10 February 1923 by Mrs Tresize.[5]

In the late-1980s, tourism boomed in the region after investor Christopher Skase financed the construction of the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort.

Its permanent population was 3,205 at the time of the 2011 census.[6]

Heritage listings

Port Douglas has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Significant events, visitors and residents

On 5 July 1943, a RAAF Vultee Vengeance (Serial Number A27-217) crash landed on the beach near Port Douglas.

In November 1996 United States President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton chose the town as their only holiday stop on their historic visit to Australia. When dining at a local restaurant they witnessed a couple's wedding certificate. On a return visit on 11 September 2001, Clinton was again dining at a local restaurant, when he was advised of the September 11 attacks. He returned to the United States the following day.[11]

On 4 September 2006, television personality and conservationist Steve Irwin died at Batt Reef, off Port Douglas, after a stingray barb pierced his heart during filming of a documentary called The Ocean's Deadliest.[12] Irwin was filmed snorkelling directly above the stingray when it lashed him with its tail, killing him almost immediately. The event was widely reported in Australia and overseas.[13]

The annual Port Douglas Carnivale is held in May and runs for 10 days over two weekends, beginning with a parade attracting over 10,000 people.[14] In October Porttoberfest (a play on Oktoberfest) is held. The Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival is also held during October.[15]

Port Douglas was a popular location to view the 14 November 2012 solar eclipse that occurred at 6:38 am (local time). Thousands travelled to Port Douglas to see the phenomenon.

The music video for Kylie Minogue's 1988 single "It's No Secret" was filmed in Port Douglas.

St Mary's by the Sea (former Catholic church, 1914-1988)

Climate

Port Douglas has a tropical monsoon climate according to Köppen climate classification (Am), with hot summers and warm winters, with heavy rainfall primarily occurring from January–March, the wettest month of the year typically being February. The average temperature of the sea ranges from 23.7 °C (74.7 °F) in July to 29.5 °C (85.1 °F) in January. [16]

Climate data for Port Douglas, Queensland
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 30.3
(86.5)		 30.1
(86.2)		 29.5
(85.1)		 28.3
(82.9)		 26.7
(80.1)		 25.1
(77.2)		 24.6
(76.3)		 25.3
(77.5)		 26.7
(80.1)		 28.3
(82.9)		 29.5
(85.1)		 30.3
(86.5)		 27.9
(82.2)
Average low °C (°F) 23.7
(74.7)		 23.5
(74.3)		 22.8
(73)		 21.5
(70.7)		 19.5
(67.1)		 17.7
(63.9)		 16.8
(62.2)		 17.1
(62.8)		 18.6
(65.5)		 20.8
(69.4)		 22.3
(72.1)		 23.3
(73.9)		 20.6
(69.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 401.6
(15.811)		 429.7
(16.917)		 425.6
(16.756)		 204.8
(8.063)		 70.8
(2.787)		 47.3
(1.862)		 25.6
(1.008)		 24.1
(0.949)		 32.0
(1.26)		 52.0
(2.047)		 107.9
(4.248)		 213.2
(8.394)		 2,032.4
(80.016)
Average precipitation days 15.5 15.9 16.1 13.3 9.8 7.0 5.5 5.2 5.4 6.4 9.0 11.7 120.8
Source: Bureau of Meteorology [17]

Recreation

Kitesurfing at Port Douglas, Australia

Kitesurfing is popular at the southern end of Four Mile Beach, particularly during the winter months when trade winds blow from the South.

Port Douglas is near the Great Barrier Reef. Numerous companies run daily trips from the marina to the outer reef and the Low Isles for scuba diving and snorkelling. Port Douglas is also well known for its many restaurants, walks, golf courses, and five star resorts.

The Port Douglas Community Hall houses the Port Douglas Library, 11-29 Mowbray Street, operated by the Douglas Shire Council.[18] The Library opened in 2010.[19] Another branch library is located in Mossman.[20]

Education

The original Port Douglas State School closed in 1962. It was reopened on 23 January 1989.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Port Douglas (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 19 March 2018. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ↑ "100 Best Towns in Australia". "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013
  3. ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "A DEVASTATING CALAMITY". The Brisbane Courier (16, 597). Queensland, Australia. 22 March 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 14 April 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Port Douglas War Memorial". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  6. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Port Douglas". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 27 January 2014. Edit this at Wikidata
  7. ↑ "FDA Carstens Memorial (entry 601053)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "St Mary's by the Sea (entry 600464)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "Port Douglas Wharf and Storage Shed (former) (entry 600466)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Port Douglas Court House Museum (entry 600465)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  11. ↑ KING, LARRY (3 September 2002). "Interview With Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, Andrew McKelvey, Dan Rather". Cable News Network. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  12. ↑ Jason Staines Crocodile man, Steve Irwin, dies Archived 19 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine., The Age, 4 September 2006
  13. ↑ Death footage 'will never see the light of day' Archived 8 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine., The Age, 7 September 2006
  14. ↑ Cotton, Martine. "Port Douglas Carnivale". Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 20 February 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  15. ↑ Cullen, Sam. "Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival". Port Douglas Event Management. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  16. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  17. ↑ "Climate Statistics for Port Douglas, Queensland". 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012.
  18. ↑ "Port Douglas, Directory of Public Libraries". Public Libraries Connect. 30 October 2017. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  19. ↑ "Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin 2016-2017" (PDF). Public Libraries Connect. November 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  20. ↑ "Douglas Shire, Public Libraries Connect". Public Libraries Connect. 20 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  21. ↑ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland schools (N)". education.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
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