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The history is just the beginning...
cooktown
James Cook
In 1770, Captain James Cook and his ship the
‘Endeavour’
ran afoul of the
Great Barrier
Reef
and seriously damaged the hull. To avoid
sinking, over 50 tonnes of stores had to be
off-loaded in order to free the "Endeavour"
from the reef. Cook needed to find safe waters,
and fast, so
he sailed his damaged 368 tonne
vessel into the closest river
he could find.
Cook’s 48-day stay in the harbour was to be
his longest onshore stay for his entire voyage.
He later named the river ‘Endeavour’ after the
great vessel whose life it saved.
It was the
only river in Australia that he would name.
Every year the
Cooktown Discovery Festival
celebrates this historic event by staging a fully
costumed re-enactment of Cook’s landing.
See the events section for more.
history and culture
Captain James Cook