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Visit us online:
Cooktown Tourist Information: FREECALL 1800 174 895
grassy hill
sightseeing in cooktown
On the corner of Furneaux Street is a
traditional Queenslander
, formerly both bank
and Post Office staff quarters. Just a block
up Furneaux Street on the corner of Helen
Street stands the
James Cook Museum
built
in
1889
.
Continuing on down Charlotte Street on the
left is the
West Coast Hotel
, another survivor
of the
Gold Rush
days built in 1874.
To your right is the
Cooktown Railway
Station
. This fine old building was originally
the nerve centre of the
Cooktown-Laura
Railway
. The 67 mile line operated from 1885
to 1961. The building was moved to its present
site in 1965 and is now home to the
Cooktown
Creative Arts Association
. In Anzac Park
the
Leopard Tank
was donated to Cooktown
R.S.L Sub Branch by the Commonwealth of
Australia in 2011.
Across the street on the corner of Walker
Street is the
Cooktown Hotel
, formerly the
Commercial Hotel. Built in 1875, and re-named
the Cooktown Hotel in 1982, it is known locally
as the
“Top Pub”
.
Now’s the time for a
“water hole and food
stop”
at one of the many places you have
passed!
Grassy Hill
Grassy Hill & Lighthouse are located at the
eastern end of
Hope Street
and the lookouts
provide breathtaking
panoramic views of
Cooktown
, the
Endeavour River
and
Coral
Sea
. James Cook climbed the hill on several
occasions to view the surrounding reefs
enabling him to navigate a safe passage out
after repairing his ship.
Built in England, the lighthouse was shipped
to Cooktown in
1885
and automated in
1927
.
In 2010 a major
re-development
project
of Grassy Hill enhanced the viewpoint with
improved road access, new
recreation
facilities
,
public artworks
and disability ramp
access in the shape of a
serpent
winding up
from the car park to the lighthouse. Visible
from the air this is now one of FNQ’s iconic
landmarks.
Tug-O-War outside the Cooktown Hotel
Cooktown Lighthouse