Community
25 April, 2025
Epic stories of farming
‘CATTLE, Cane and Cedar’, a popular book that captures certain parts of the Douglas Shire’s history, has now been reprinted by the Douglas Shire Historical Society.
The book was first released in 2017, then reprinted in 2018 and, due to its popularity, has been re-issued again, with updates.
This was made possible due to a grant from the Tin Shed in Port Douglas.
“We have had to reprint the book three times now, as it just keeps selling out,” said Douglas Shire Historical Society member Pam Willis Burden.
Painstaking research was undertaken by society members Ken Keith, Belinda Peters and John Anich, who visited many local properties and spoke to farmers who explained their methods of work.
They shared photos of machinery and equipment used then and now.
While the society members were hunting through old sheds, they chatted to the property owners about their family histories and these many fascinating stories have become part of the book.
“We spent months visiting farms and getting into the back of people’s sheds, finding old equipment and photographing it, as farmers tend to keep things,” Ms Willis Burden said.
“It is a priceless record of practices which are often no longer used and with the closure of the Mossman mill, it is an essential historical document,” she said.
Cattle, Cane and Cedar is available from the Port Douglas Court House Museum or online at www.douglashistory.org.au under ‘shop’ menu
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