Port Douglas

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Script error: No such module "about". Template:DMCA Template:DMCA Page Template:Infobox Australian place/styles.css has no content.Script error: No such module "Template wrapper".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". Port Douglas (Template:Langx)[2] is a coastal town and locality in the Shire of Douglas, Queensland, Australia,[3][4] approximately 60 km (37 mi) north of Cairns.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Port Douglas had a population of 3,650 people.[1]

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 in the area surrounding the Daintree River and with settlement starting on lots around the Mossman River by 1880.

Previous names for the town included Jabulkanji (in Kuku-Yalandji language), 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.[5]

History

File:Port Douglas War Memorial, Queensland, 2020, 01.jpg
Port Douglas War Memorial, 2020

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.[6] 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.[citation needed]

Port Douglas State School opened on 11 November 1879, but closed in 1962. It was reopened on 23 January 1989.[7][8]

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 demolished or severely damaged all but seven residential buildings and 4 commercial buildings, including the Wharf buildings (rebuilt), the Courthouse (rebuilt), the Catholic church (rebuilt) and Chinese temple (not rebuilt).[9][10]

The Port Douglas War Memorial was unveiled on 10 February 1923 by Mrs Tresize.[11]

On 5 July 1943, a RAAF Vultee Vengeance (Serial Number A27–217) crash landed on the beach near Port Douglas.[12]

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

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.[13]

On a return visit on 11 September 2001, Bill 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.[13]

On 4 September 2006, television personality and conservationist Steve Irwin died at Batt Reef, off Port Douglas, after a stingray barb pierced his chest during filming of a documentary called The Ocean's Deadliest.[14] 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.[15]

Although historically and currently Port Douglas is with the local government area of Shire of Douglas, between 2008 and 2013, it was within the Cairns Region following a local government amalgamation which was subsequently reversed following a vote by residents of the area.[16]

Port Douglas was a popular location to view the 14 November 2012 solar eclipse at 6:38 am (local time). Many travelled to Port Douglas to see the phenomenon.[17]

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the locality of Port Douglas had a population of 3,205 people.[18]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Port Douglas had a population of 3,504 people.[19]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Port Douglas had a population of 3,650 people. 51.9% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 6.7% and New Zealand 4.1%. 69.9% of people spoke only English at home. The most common responses for religion were No Religion, so described 46.7% and not stated 16.3%.[1]

Heritage listings

File:St Mary's by the Sea, Port Douglas, 2020, 02.jpg
St Mary's by the Sea (former Catholic church, 1914–1988)

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

Climate

Port Douglas has a tropical monsoon climate according to the Köppen climate classification (Am), with hot summers and warm winters, with heavy rainfall primarily 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.[24] Script error: No such module "weather box".

Environmental challenges

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Port Douglas is susceptible to extreme weather events such as cyclones and floods. These events can have immediate and severe impacts on critical infrastructure, including water supply systems. At the end of 2023, the town experienced critical water supply issues following the impact of Cyclone Jasper.[26]

Education

File:Port Douglas State School, 2025.jpg
Port Douglas State School, 2025

Port Douglas State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 4 Endeavour Street (Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.).[27][28][29] In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 281 students with 20 teachers (17 full-time equivalent) and 12 non-teaching staff (8 full-time equivalent).[30]

There are no secondary schools in Port Douglas. The nearest government secondary school is Mossman State High School in neighbouring Mossman to the north-west. There are also non-government schools in Mossman.[31]

Amenities

The Port Douglas Community Hall houses the Port Douglas Library, 11–29 Mowbray Street, operated by the Douglas Shire Council.[32] The Library opened in 2010.[33] Another branch library is located in Mossman.[34]

The Port Douglas branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the CWA Hall at 8 Blake Street.[35]

St Mary's Catholic Church is at 2 Endeavour Street. It is within the Mossman-Port Douglas Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns.[36]

Transport

Air travel is served by the nearest Cairns Airport which is about an hour drive from Port Douglas.[37]

The town is along the Captain Cook Highway which links between Carins and Mossman.

Events

File:Kitesurfing Port Douglas.jpg
Kitesurfing at Port Douglas, Australia

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.[38]

The Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival is also held during October.[39]

Each June the Captain Cook Highway is closed for a day to host the IRONMAN Triathlon, where cyclists race from the Cairns Esplanade to the outskirts of Port Douglas and back (a distance of 180km).[40]

Attractions

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.[citation needed]

Near the centre of town is a wildlife park that displays crocodiles, tree-kangaroos, cassowaries, koalas, quolls, flying foxes and other native animals.[citation needed]

File:President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson and Mrs Johnson with koalas, Port Douglas, 23 October 1966 (36225738701).jpg
President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson and Mrs Johnson with koalas, Port Douglas, 23 October 1966

References

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  1. ^ a b c Template:Census 2021 AUS
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Language is the road map of a Culture". tourismportdouglas.com.au. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Port Douglas – town in Shire of Douglas (entry 27348)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Port Douglas – locality in Shire of Douglas (entry 48847)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  5. ^ "100 Best Towns in Australia". Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."100 Best Towns in Australia | Australian Traveller". Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."A DEVASTATING CALAMITY". The Brisbane Courier. No. 16, 597. Queensland, Australia. 22 March 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 14 April 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Port Douglas Disaster". Cairns Post. Vol. XXV, no. 975. Queensland, Australia. 24 March 1911. p. 2. Retrieved 14 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Port Douglas War Memorial". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."5 July 1943: Crash of a Vultee Vengeance on a beach near Port Douglas, Qld". Australia @ War. 29 October 2018. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  13. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.KING, LARRY (3 September 2002). "Interview With Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, Andrew McKelvey, Dan Rather". CNN. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  14. ^ Jason Staines Crocodile man, Steve Irwin, dies Script error: No such module "webarchive"., The Age, 4 September 2006
  15. ^ Death footage 'will never see the light of day' Script error: No such module "webarchive"., The Age, 7 September 2006
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."De-Amalgamation Information". Douglas Shire Council. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Long, Alyson (11 April 2024). "What's it Like To Experience a Total Solar Eclipse (Port Douglas) in Photos". World Travel Family. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Port Douglas". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 27 January 2014.Script error: No such module "EditAtWikidata".Template:WikidataCheck
  19. ^ Template:Census 2016 AUS
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Port Douglas Wharf and Storage Shed (former) (entry 600466)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."FDA Carstens Memorial (entry 601053)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  22. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."St Mary's by the Sea (entry 600464)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  23. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Port Douglas Court House Museum (entry 600465)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Port Douglas Water Temperature | Australia Sea Temperatures". Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  25. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Climate Statistics for Port Douglas, Queensland". 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012.
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Queensland town's water supply at 'critical low'". www.9news.com.au. 29 December 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  27. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Port Douglas State School". Port Douglas State School. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  29. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Port Douglas State School". Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  30. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."ACARA School Profile 2017". Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  31. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Retrieved 3 March 2025.
  32. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Port Douglas, Directory of Public Libraries". Public Libraries Connect. 30 October 2017. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  33. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."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.
  34. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Douglas Shire, Public Libraries Connect". Public Libraries Connect. 20 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  35. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Branch Locations". Queensland Country Women's Association. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  36. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Mossman-Port Douglas Parish". Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns. Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  37. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Long, James (28 April 2024). "Port Douglas Nearest Airport". Port Douglas Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  38. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Cotton, Martine. "Port Douglas Carnivale". Port Douglas Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on 20 February 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  39. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Cullen, Sam. "Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival". Port Douglas Event Management. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  40. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Course Overview | IRONMAN Cairns". www.ironman.com. Retrieved 15 May 2026.

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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for [[Wikivoyage:Port Douglas#Template:Wikidata|Port Douglas]].

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