Daintree, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Daintree Queensland
Windy Reach, Daintree Village, 2016
Daintree Location in Queensland
Population	93 (2021 census)
• Density	14.76/km2 (38.2/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4873
Area	6.3 km2 (2.4 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC)
Location	1,792 km (1,113 mi) NW of Brisbane 112 km (70 mi) N of Cairns 55 km (34 mi) N of Port Douglas
LGA(s)	Shire of Douglas
State electorate(s)	Cook
Federal Division(s)	Leichhardt
Localities around Daintree: Upper Daintree Forest Creek Forest Creek Stewart Creek Valley Daintree Lower Daintree Stewart Creek Valley Lower Daintree Lower Daintree

Daintree is a small, quiet town in the northern part of Queensland, Australia. It's a rural area, meaning it's mostly countryside, not a big city. In 2021, only 93 people lived there. Daintree is part of the Shire of Douglas and is known for its beautiful natural surroundings, especially the nearby Daintree River and Daintree Rainforest.

Where is Daintree?

Daintree is located in North Queensland, about 111 kilometers (69 miles) north of Cairns. It's also about 56 kilometers (35 miles) from Port Douglas, Queensland, a popular tourist spot. The McDowell Ranges are close to the town. The famous Daintree River flows nearby, giving the town its name.

Naming the Town

The town is named after the Daintree River. This river was named on December 6, 1873, by explorer George Elphinstone Dalrymple. He named it after Richard Daintree, who was a pioneering geologist and photographer from Britain. Richard Daintree explored North Queensland in the 1860s.

A Look Back: Daintree's History

The land around Daintree has a long and rich history. It is the traditional home of the Kuku Yalanji people. Their language, also known as Gugu Yalanji, is an Aboriginal language spoken in areas like Mossman and Daintree. The traditional language region covers a wide area, from the Mossman River in the south to the Annan River in the north. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean inland to west of Mount Mulgrave.

Early Settlers and Industries

Daintree Village was first settled in the late 1870s and early 1880s. The first people to settle here were timber workers. They came looking for a special tree called Toona Australis, often called Red Cedar. There were many of these valuable trees near the Daintree River. The loggers would cut down the timber and float it down the river on rafts to the coast.

Later, dairy farms were started in the area. This led to a butter factory opening in 1924. After that, beef farming also became an important way for local families to earn a living.

Daintree and Tourism

Just like many other places in Queensland, tourism has become very important for Daintree. The town became well-known for early morning tours on the Daintree River. These tours are especially popular with people who enjoy watching birds.

The dawn river trips helped many bed and breakfast (B&B) places to open up. These B&Bs are a big part of the local economy and provide jobs for families. Red Mill House, which opened in 1993, was the very first B&B in the Douglas Shire. It helped pave the way for many others to follow.

In 1986, Queensland's Wet Tropics area was listed as a World Heritage site. Daintree is part of this amazing Wet Tropics region. It is also very close to the famous Daintree National Park, which is a major attraction for tourists visiting Port Douglas.

Population of Daintree

In 2016, the area of Daintree had a population of 129 people. By 2021, the population had changed to 93 people.

Learning in Daintree

Daintree State School is a government primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It is located on Osborne Street. In 2017, the school had 15 students and 2 teachers.