Page 96 - Port Douglas Magazine 44

daintree special.

WHISPERS FROM THE RIVERBANK:

THE HISTORY OF

DAINTREE VILLAGE

WORDS by Byron Filmer

NESTLED ON THE BANKS OF THE DAINTREE RIVER sits the Port Douglas. The river was named after Richard Daintree, who ironically
Daintree Village. Growing up in this small community has made the never set foot in the region. Dalrymple’s report of abundant Red Cedar
history of the Village mean a great deal to me. Before writing this piece, quickly drew loggers seeking fortunes. They believed they’d found an endless
I spent time collecting photos, stories, and visiting significant locations supply, but by 1888 the industry had collapsed as cedar stocks were nearly
to better understand my home’s history and document information that depleted and prices plummeted.
may otherwise fade away. Still, that short-lived boom opened the gateway for the area’s first permanent
While it might seem a sleepy little town today, its past tells a story of settlers.
resilience, transformation, and community spirit, from its roots in logging
and dairy to an eventual boom in tourism. The Daintree Village was once the THE EARLY DAYS
furthest north a hire car could venture before the road to Cape Tribulation In 1879, John Whitehead Stuart and his brothers Gavin and Archie became
was sealed. the region’s first permanent European settlers. They planted fruit trees and
The Daintree Village is located just 40 minutes north of Port Douglas and established the first post office across from the current township. They were
sits along the southern bank of the Daintree River, meaning there’s no need soon joined by families like the Reynolds, Fischers, and Osbornes, whose
to cross the ferry to visit. though many travellers do not take the extra five descendants still live in the region today.
minutes to visit as they head straight for the ferry crossing and onward to the The Kuku Yalanji people had lived along the Daintree River in small groups
more well-known Cape Tribulation. long before European settlement, calling the area Julaymba. Arthur Osborne
THE TIMES OF TIMBER is said to be the first white child born in the Village in 1883, and his family,
The story of the Daintree Village began in 1873, when George Dalrymple like many others, played a central role in the development of the settlement
explored the Daintree River in search of a route to the Palmer River and surrounding farmland. Early settlers hosted the region’s first schools and
goldfields. Around this time, the first settlers were developing Mossman and laid the foundations for farming and cattle industries.

98 Port Douglas Magazine & Travel Planner