Cooks Monument and Reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cooks Monument and Reserve |
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Cooks Monument and Reserve, 2010
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| Location | Charlotte Street, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1887 - 1989 |
| Architect | Office of the Queensland Colonial Architect |
| Official name: Cooks Monument and Reserve | |
| Type | state heritage (built, landscape) |
| Designated | 30 April 1997 |
| Reference no. | 601044 |
| Significant period | 1887- (social ,fabric) 1887, 1948,1989 (historical) |
| Significant components | memorial/monument, sign, plaque, memorial - cairn, park / green space, cannon, well, trees/plantings, memorial - fountain |
| Builders | Hobbs and Carter |
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Cooks Monument and Reserve is a special historical place in Cooktown, Queensland, Australia. It's a memorial built on Charlotte Street. This heritage-listed site was designed by the office of the Queensland Colonial Architect. It was built by Hobbs and Carter in 1887. The monument and its surrounding reserve were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on April 30, 1997.
Contents
The Monument's Story
Building the Monument
The Cook Monument in Cooktown was built in 1887. The builders were Hobbs and Carter from South Brisbane. The design came from the office of the Queensland Colonial Architect, George St Paul Connolly.
Cooktown itself was started in September 1873. It became a port for the Palmer River goldfields. By the mid-1880s, it was a very important gold mining area in Queensland. A railway was built from Cooktown to Laura between 1884 and 1888. This helped the port grow even more.
By the late 1880s, Cooktown was a busy center. Besides gold mining, it was important for pearling and beche-de-mer (sea cucumber) fishing. It also supported farming and cattle stations. After 1885, Cooktown was the main port for trade with New Guinea.
Why a Monument to Cook?
In May 1886, the Premier of Queensland, Sir Samuel Walker Griffith, visited Cooktown. He was checking on the northern ports. The Cooktown Municipal Council wanted to remember James Cook's visit. Captain Cook had stayed at the Endeavour River in 1770. His ship, the Endeavour, needed repairs.
The Premier agreed to have the Colonial Architect's office design the monument. The Council wanted a statue of James Cook on top. But when builders were asked for prices in 1886 and 1887, it was only for the column. Sir Samuel Griffith visited again in December 1887. He said it was more important to remember the event than the person. So, no statue of Cook was added.
Construction Details
The building contract was given to Hobbs and Carter in February 1887. The cost was about £1,059. The monument was finished by January 1888. The Sandstone used came from Murphys Creek in southeast Queensland. It was one of the first stone buildings in Cooktown.
The Reserve and Well
A small park, about 1.5 acres (0.6 hectares), was set up around the monument in June 1888. This was for town use. A brick-lined town well was built in this reserve. It was probably made by the Cooktown Municipal Council. This well supplied water to ships at the nearby Cooktown wharves. It also sometimes supplied water to businesses on Charlotte Street.
Other Memorials in the Reserve
Over time, other memorials were added to the reserve:
- Kennedy Memorial: In 1948, a granite stone monument was put up. It honors British explorer Edmund Kennedy, who died during an encounter with local Aboriginal people on Cape York Peninsula in December 1848. Kennedy's explorations helped open up far north Queensland for settlement.
- National Horse Trail Marker: A small granite stone was placed in August 1977. It marks the start of the National Horse Trail. This trail goes all the way from Cooktown to Melbourne. It also remembers Dan Seymour, who showed that such a long trail was possible in the early 1970s.
- Annan River Water Supply Memorial Fountain: In 1989, the old town well was cleaned. A fountain was built over it. This celebrated a new water supply from the Annan River to Cooktown. This new pipeline replaced Cooktown's older water source.
- 1803 Cannon: A cannon made in Scotland in 1803 is now in the reserve. It has the royal symbol "GR" on it. In 1885, people in Cooktown were worried about a "Russian invasion." The Cooktown Council asked the Premier for weapons. This cannon was sent, along with ammunition and an officer. It was first placed near the Cooktown Powder Magazine. It is fired once a year during the celebrations of Cook's landing.
What the Monument Looks Like
Cook's Monument is in a small grassy park. This park is between Charlotte Street and the Endeavour River. It's on a small hill near where James Cook repaired his ship in 1770. The park has palm trees and other mature trees around its edges.
The Monument Itself
The monument is a tall, thin sandstone column. It has a detailed top part, called a capital. The column sits on a square base, called a pedestal. This pedestal rests on a granite base and steps, called a plinth.
The steps lead up to a square section, called a dado. This dado used to have drinking fountains on each side. Water came out of sculpted animal heads. This water supply was likely from a tank inside. The dado has a simple top part, called an entablature. The top of the monument, called a pediment, has sandstone urns at each corner.
Other Features in the Reserve
- The 1803 Cannon: North of the Cook Monument is the cannon. It was sent to Cooktown in 1885 for the local volunteer defense force. It stands on a concrete platform. There is also a sign nearby that explains its history.
- Kennedy Memorial: South of the monument is the Kennedy Memorial. It's a cone-shaped granite stone, about 1.2 meters (4 feet) tall. It has a brass plaque on the front facing Charlotte Street.
- National Horse Trail Marker: This is a simple, cone-shaped granite stone. It's about 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) tall. It also has a brass plaque on the front facing Charlotte Street.
- Annan River Water Supply Memorial Fountain and Early Town Well: The fountain is made of metal pipes built over the old brick-lined town well. The well is about 23 feet (7 meters) wide at the top. It goes down 16 feet (4.9 meters) to a ledge. Then it narrows to 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide and goes down another 8 feet 4 inches (2.5 meters). At the very bottom are granite slabs. The well could hold about 47,000 imperial gallons (213,660 liters) of water.
Why This Place is Important
Cooks Monument and Reserve was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets several important criteria.
Showing History
This place is important for showing Queensland's history. It remembers Captain Cook's visit to the Endeavour River in 1770. This was the first time British people officially stayed on the east coast of Australia. It's also Queensland's oldest memorial to James Cook and his crew. It shows how Cooktown felt important about its history early on.
The old brick-lined town well is also important. It shows how town services like water supply were set up in early Cooktown.
A Great Example
The monument is a beautiful example of its kind. It's one of the best sandstone public memorials in Queensland. It also shows the excellent work done by the Queensland colonial architect's office under George St Paul Connolly.
Looks and Feel
The monument's beautiful setting in a grassy park with trees makes Cooktown look special. From the Endeavour River, it's a well-known landmark in Cooktown.
Special Meaning to People
This place is very important to the people of Cooktown. It helps them connect with their historical identity. Many other memorials have been placed in the reserve. This shows how important this place continues to be for the community.
Images for kids
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Cooks Monument and Reserve, 2010
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Original design of the monument included a statue of Cook at the top
