General News
3 October, 2024
History on display for all to enjoy
EARLIER this month, members of the Douglas Shire Historical Society made the long trek to Herberton to be part of the inaugural Far North Historical Expo, hosted by the Tablelands Regional Council.
Many other historical societies took part, including Cairns, Eacham, Tolga, Irvinebank and the Hou Wang Chinese Museum in Atherton.
Display gazebos were spread around the Herberton Mining Centre, which houses a huge collection of artefacts and stories. It also preserves local family histories and has a large reference library, with hands-on mining displays in the courtyards.
Outside displays at the expo included how to crack huge boulders and how to pan for alluvial tin, the discovery of which was why Herberton was founded.
The Douglas Shire Historical Society took local books, which were of great interest, primarily because some of the participants had previously lived in Mossman.
One visitor on the day was Bob Prince, son of Lou Prince, who was manager of Mossman Central Mill and was responsible for installing the very first computer there. Mr Prince is keen to see the mill’s history preserved, perhaps, eventually, with a museum on the current site.
The expo also involved historical talks, including one from well-known historian Gordon Grimwade, who spoke about the Chinese migration on foot from Darwin to Queensland.
Mr Grimwade had been recently advised of a Joss House bell that was advertised for sale and he was keen to buy it for the Hou Wang temple. Unfortunately, it had just been purchased.
“The seller was not willing to give the buyer’s name, but when Gordon and Jacky Tam from Cairns and District Chinese Association looked at its photo, they believe, from the inscription on the bell, that it may have come from the Port Douglas Joss House in Warner St,” he said.
Douglas Shire Historical Society member Pam Willis Burden said “it would have been an invaluable addition to the Port Douglas Court House Museum”.
The historical society was represented by vice-president Ann-Marie Fapani and committee members Dian Stevenson and Mrs Willis Burden who were pleased to share the Douglas history more widely and to meet fellow Far North historians.
Read More: Port Douglas
